Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner (; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since July 2024. She has been Deputy Leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. Ideologically she identifies as a socialist and as being part of Labour's soft left.

Rayner was born and raised in Stockport, where she attended the comprehensive Avondale School. She left school aged 16 whilst pregnant and without any qualifications. She later trained in social care at Stockport College and worked for the local council as a care worker. She eventually became a trade union representative within Unison, during which time she joined the Labour Party. She was selected to contest AshtonunderLyne in 2014 and was elected for the seat at the 2015 general election. From 2016 to 2024, Rayner held several senior shadow cabinet positions under Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer, and successfully stood for the deputy leadership in 2020.

Following Labour's victory in the 2024 general election, Rayner entered government and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by Starmer in his government. Rayner's strong support base and potential as a future leader led to the ''New Statesman'' ranking her as the eighth most powerful person in British left-wing politics for 2023. Provided by Wikipedia