Sir Keir Starmer has opened the door to a return to frontline politics for Angela Rayner by saying that he "absolutely" wants his ex-deputy Angela Rayner back in his top team "at some stage".
The Prime Minister also revealed that he continues to speak with Ms Rayner after she left office for underpaying stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove in September.
The comments open the way for a return for Ms Rayner - who is popular with members and backbench Labour MPs - to the Cabinet ahead of the General Election, which must be held by the middle of 2029 at the latest.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa, Sir Keir was pressed on whether he missed having Rayner in his Cabinet after she quit.
He said: "I’ve always said I want Angela back.
"Even back in September at the time I said she is going to be a big voice in the Labour movement.
“But do I want Angela back at some stage? Yes, absolutely."
The Prime Minister continued: “I think she is the best example ever.
Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner served alongside each other following their respective victories in 2020
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"The United Kingdom of social mobility - going from a pretty challenging childhood to being Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
"She is the story of social mobility above all other stories.”
Asked if he missed having Ms Rayner "around the place," Sir Keir replied: "I’m friends with Angie and I like Angie a lot and we talk a lot.
"We still do. It’s always good to have Angela.”
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The Prime Minister revealed his nickname for Angela Rayner
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However, Sir Keir's comments come amid swirling rumours around Westminster about Labour MPs plotting to bring his premiership to an end.
A new opinion poll of Labour members found Ms Rayner would beat Sir Keir in a head-to-head contest.
More than half of the 1,013 Labour Party members surveyed - 52 per cent - would side with Ms Rayner, as opposed to just 33 per cent who lean towards Sir Keir - an astonishing 19 percentage point difference.
The poll also found that a total of four rivals - including Andy Burnham, Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting - would trump the Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer made the remarks during his visit to the G20 in South Africa
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More than half of Labour members want a new leader in No10 before the next election, a Survation poll for LabourList found.
Speaking to GB News earlier this week, the Prime Minister remained defiant about leading Labour into the next general election.
Sir Keir told the People's Channel: "Yes, I've always said this is a decade of national renewal. I know that we were elected on a mandate of change.
"That change is bearing down on the cost of living. Do people feel better off?
Angela Rayner's resignation sparked a huge reshuffle
| PA"It's making sure that public services are turned around, and our NHS in particular, and people feel safe and secure in their community.
"I'll be judged on that in the next election, quite rightly, by the electorate, and every day, that is what I focus on."
However, opinion polls currently suggest Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is the frontrunner to win the next election.
The latest Opinium survey puts Reform UK 13 per cent ahead of Labour, with Sir Keir's personal approval rating also hitting a new low.