'I'm not dead yet!' Angela Rayner teases comeback to frontline politics as she takes swipe at Keir Starmer

In remarks suggesting she harbours ambitions of returning to the political forefront, Ms Rayner expressed her determination to help Labour confront the challenge posed by Reform.

"And I'm still fighting. I'm not dead yet," she declared, according to The Times.

Sources close to Ms Rayner have suggested around 80 Labour MPs would be prepared to back her in a future leadership contest, should one arise after May’s elections.

Ms Rayner stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary in September following revelations she had underpaid stamp duty on an £800,000 property in Hove.

Her intervention comes at a volatile moment for the party, as internal tensions over leadership and candidate selection spill into public view.

The comments emerged just as another figure seen as a potential challenger to Sir Keir Starmer suffered a setback.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from seeking the Labour nomination in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, a decision that has exposed significant rifts within the party's ranks.

The decision to bar Mr Burnham was taken by a 10-member panel of the party's ruling National Executive Committee, which includes Sir Keir himself.

Some 50 MPs and peers have put their names to a letter condemning the move, insisting there was "no legitimate reason" for preventing the popular mayor from standing.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has sought to draw a line under the controversy, declaring the matter "done and dusted".

On Tuesday, Mr Burnham denied reports that he had been previously told by No10 that he would be blocked from standing.

"It is simply untrue that I was told I would be blocked," he said.

"I went through the whole weekend having conversations with people in No10."

The episode has laid bare the tensions simmering beneath the surface of Sir Keir's leadership, with Ms Rayner's supporters now openly discussing her prospects in any future contest for the top job.

Labour is currently selecting its candidate for the Manchester seat, with the by-election campaign now underway.

Reform has already named its candidate, selecting former academic Matt Goodwin.

Workers Party of Britain, led by George Galloway, has chosen Shahbaz Sarwar, a Manchester councillor, to contest the seat.

The Green Party has also launched its campaign, with party leader Zack Polanski attending a rally in the constituency on Tuesday evening, though the party has yet to formally confirm its candidate.

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