The secret deal Rayner’s allies want her to strike to become PM

Angela Rayner allies are pushing her to strike a deal with Andy Burnham to let him back into Parliament – but only if she becomes prime minister first.

Sources close to the former deputy Labour leader say Rayner does not believe that the hugely-popular mayor of Greater Manchester has a “realistic chance” of becoming a MP before a leadership contest is triggered.

Allies of Rayner have convinced a number of MPs originally backing Burnham that she is the only candidate from the “soft left” that can replace Sir Keir Starmer if the starting gun on the race for 10 Downing Street is fired imminently.

Shorts – Quick stories

WORLD ANALYSIS

Trump faces his greatest rival this week. He needs a win

Peter Frankopan

Professor of Global History at Oxford University

Only a few months ago, the prospect of a summit between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping looked likely to be a bruising confrontation.

Last year, after Washington had imposed tariffs on Chinese goods that reached as high as 145 per cent at one stage, rhetoric on both sides hardened sharply.

Rising anxieties

Trump has tried to navigate the rising anxiety about China, which is one of the issues that has united Republicans and Democrats in the US for the best part of 10 years.

He has consistently expressed his admiration for Jinping, even when he was out of office. To his detractors, this was yet another sign that the US President has a soft spot for autocrats and dictators.

OPINION

3 min read

A ‘friendly’ summit

After a meeting between the two leaders in Busan, South Korea, last October, Jinping took a similar line. “China and the United States should be partners and friends,” he said.

This does not mean that the anxieties that both countries have about each other’s motivations, ambitions or capabilities have dissipated. At the moment, however, it suits both sides to make this week’s summit as friendly and constructive as possible.

Iran war pressures

For the US, the opening of Pandora’s box that has followed the attacks on Iran means that, as well as being preoccupied elsewhere, there is a need to replenish heavily depleted weapons stocks.

• That means that a moratorium with China is helpful, as is a loosening of Beijing’s tight controls on the export of rare earths and critical minerals.
• Trump has been messaging his intentions accordingly.
• Last month, he posted on Truth Social about the summit: “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!”

The cost of fighting

Trump cannot afford to pick another fight at a time when the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has put pressure not only on oil supplies but also on fertiliser, helium and the global economy as a whole.

That works well for Jinping, too. The optics of Washington treating China as a peer are good for the latter’s global stature.

OPINION

4 min read

Movement on both sides

That is why the meeting is likely to produce a set of carefully calibrated announcements designed to show that co-operation remains possible.

The United States is expected to push hard for major Chinese purchases of American goods.

China, meanwhile, will seek movement on export controls, semiconductor restrictions and investment barriers.

Analysis

4 min read

Analysis

6 min read

HEALTH

How the four-day week could reduce obesity

Those who work longer hours are more likely to be obese, new research suggests, prompting experts to push for a four-day week in Britain.

Long days mean “time-poor” staff rely on unhealthy convenience food, have fewer opportunities to exercise, and register higher levels of cortisol – the stress hormone, all of which increase fat storage. 

The research

The research, published at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, examined data from 33 countries working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, including the UK.

It compared average working hours with obesity rates, and found nations with the highest rates of obesity, including the US and Mexico, had the longest working hours. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, had low obesity and low working hours. 

• Every 1 per cent reduction in working hours was associated with a 0.16 per cent decrease in obesity rates at a population level, the data suggests.
• Switching to a four-day week could result in a 3 per cent fall in obesity rates.
•  If applied to England, where 13.5 million are obese, this would result in over 400,000 fewer obese adults.

A balanced life is a better life

We need to change the food environment and working conditions. When people have a more balanced life, they have a better life. They have less stress, they can focus on more nutritious food and engage in more physical activities

Dr Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland in Australia, the study’s author

Of the 33 countries in the study, the UK ranked ninth for obesity rates, but 24th in terms of working hours.

The average adult in England is forecast to work 1,505 hours a year in the UK, compared with 1,811 in the US.

Dr Rita Fontinha, of the World of Work Institute at the University of Reading, said: “If you work two jobs or long hours, you simply do not have the energy to cook, and it becomes easier to just buy something packaged or processed.”

More than 200,000 workers have switched to a four-day week since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

What is the four-day week?

There is a growing movement in the UK towards a four-day week, where employees work one less day per week with no loss of pay.

Advocates argue companies can still maintain the same level of productivity, while also having wider health and societal benefits. Some say it may increase pressure to do the same amount of work in less time.

OPINION

3 min read

ENTERTAINMENT

Why Dua Lipa has sued Samsung for $15m

Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung for at least $15m (£11m), accusing the South Korean tech giant of using a photo of her to sell its TVs.

Samsung began using an image of Lipa on an image of a TV screen printed on its cardboard packaging for a “significant portion” of its TVs sold in the US last year, according to the legal complaint filed in California on Friday.

No permission or compensation

The British popstar, 30, alleges that Samsung did not financially compensate her or seek permission for using her image, which was taken backstage before a performance at the Austin City Limits festival in 2024.

When Lipa became aware of Samsung’s use of the image June 2025, she says she immediately demanded that the company stop using it. However, the singer claims Samsung was “dismissive and callous” and “repeatedly refused”.

NEWS

3 min read

MUSIC

5 min read

Singer had ‘no say, control, or input’ in campaign

Ms. Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever. Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use.

tHE LAWSUIT STATES

Copyright claims

The lawsuit states that Lipa owns the copyright to the photograph that was used, and that it is a violation of the California right of publicity statute, a federal Lanham Act claim, and trademark claims.

The case also alleges that Lipa is “highly selective” in making product endorsements and that Samsung’s conduct “makes a mockery of her hard work in establishing a successful brand”. Samsung has yet to respond.

OPINION

4 min read

Inside the race to replace Keir Starmer

When Angela Rayner finally commented in the wake of Labour’s election humiliation, it was a brutal takedown of Sir Keir Starmer’s record.

“What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance,” she declared.

OPINION

6 min read

Analysis

4 min read

Rayner sets out demands

The former deputy prime minister called on Starmer to end a “toxic culture of cronyism” and to allow the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to return to Westminster. Then she set out a left-wing shopping list of demands.

Her demands include taxing the wealthy, cutting household costs, ending the freehold system, raising the minimum wage, giving regional mayors more powers over planning and licensing and boosting community ownership.

Damp local elections for Labour

Rayner’s comments follow a damp set of local election results for Labour, as MPs openly debated whether there should be an immediate leadership contest.

MPs who had been previously loyal, in public and in private, were beginning to say on Sunday that they would lend Rayner support for a challenge.

POLITICS

4 min read

Dozens of MPs call for Starmer to step down

• Josh Simons, previously a Starmer loyalist, said the Prime Minister had “lost the country”.
• Labour’s leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, blamed a “national wave” against Labour for his party’s defeat in the Holyrood election.
• Labour left-wingers fear that a stalking horse candidate would boost Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s chances of becoming PM, with Burnham barred from standing until he becomes an MP.

Exclusive

7 min read

NEWS

Who won big at the Bafta TV Awards 2026

The winners of this year’s Bafta Television Awards have been announced in London, with Netflix drama Adolescence emerging as the big winner.

The hard-hitting four-part series was named best limited series. Owen Cooper, who played central character Jamie in his acting debut, became the youngest ever winner of the award for best supporting actor aged 16.

A look at key winners

• Leading actor: Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)
• Leading actress: Narges Rashidi – Prisoner 951 (BBC One)
• Supporting actor: Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)
• Supporting actress: Christine Tremarco – Adolescence (Netflix)

Interview

6 min read

More small screen winners

• Drama series: Code of Silence (ITV1)
• Limited drama: Adolescence (Netflix)
• Scripted comedy: Amandaland (BBC One)
• Best comedy actor: Steve Coogan – How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) (BBC One)
• Best comedy actress: Katherine Parkinson – Here We Go (BBC One)

FILM

4 min read

New Bafta record

Among the other winners were The Celebrity Traitors, EastEnders and comedy series Last One Laughing. The Celebrity Traitors and Last One Laughing each picked up two awards, while Adolescence set a record for the most Bafta victories in a single night.

In the International category, Apple TV+’s The Studio featuring Seth Rogan triumphed over fellow nominees Severance, Sky’s The White Lotus and Disney+’s The Bear.

Environment

How climate change could put tea drinkers in hot water

The familiar taste of tea may turn bitter as climate change disrupts harvests and makes it harder to achieve consistent flavours, campaigners have warned. A Christian Aid report also warns that a warming world could cause the price of a cuppa to spike.

“As climate variability increases, achieving that consistency becomes more challenging, Dr Neha Mittal from the Met Office said.

What does the report say?

• Rising temperatures and worsening weather extremes in countries such as Kenya, India and Sri Lanka could make tea more bitter and harsher, researchers say.
• The issue is also hitting close to home, with tea growers in the UK warning that it is making it much harder to achieve consistent flavours .
• Climate-induced disruptions to harvests could cause price spikes and unreliable supplies .
• The rising price of fertiliser and fuel as a result of the US-Iran war is also expected to hit tea producers.

ENVIRONMENT

3 min read

Supporting farmers

Tea production relies on stable temperature and rainfall conditions, which are shifting in producer nations. Optimal growth conditions sit within a narrow range of between 13°C and 30°C and with adequate but not excessive rainfall.

The flavour and quality of tea depends on a balance of compounds such as catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, the report said. However, higher temperatures increase the production of more astringent compounds while reducing sweetness – leading to a more bitter taste.

The expert view

For generations, consumers have taken for granted that a cup of tea will taste the same, day in, day out. But that consistency depends on a stable climate, and that stability is now breaking down. What we are seeing is the beginning of a shift towards a harsher brew

Claire Nasike Akello, climate adaptation and resilience lead at Christian Aid

How to fake your way to being organised

Do you have your life together? Is your home tidy and clutter-free; your diary neatly colour-coded; your to-do list full of satisfying ticks?

If these questions feel like a personal attack don’t worry. We asked the put-together experts for their secrets.

Get to know your brain

The real magic is rarely in the system but in how your brain likes to work.

• If you love analytical tasks, try making spreadsheets.
• Set reminders for the things you usually forget.
• Use the Notes app for the ideas you think of in the shower but never remember when you get to do it.
• But if you are more likely to structure your day around how you’re feeling, a calendar isn’t the best option.

How to fake your way to organisation

Make it easier

If you hate folding, change your storage style. If you’re always forgetting your keys, put a sign by your door.

Make a launch pad

Keep a small tray or basket in the hallway for your can’t-leave-home-without essentials.

Use technology

After meetings use an AI tool to note down what you have to remember as a brain dump.

Create new habits

The one-touch rule

If you put your shoes straight on the rack as you take them off, instead of kicking them onto the floor and moving them later, that’s one touch. If you hang things up rather than tossing them onto the ‘bedroom chair’ it’s another one-touch win.

Talk to yourself out loud

This verbal anchor helps you remember what you have decided to do and cuts down on mental drift.

The 300-second challenge

• Give yourself five minutes to deal with one overdue chore or task.
• Using seconds rather than minutes creates urgency and gives your brain a novelty hit.
• Try it when putting the laundry away, making a phone call or reading an overdue email.

LIFESTYLE

9 min read

Make it easier for yourself

Use completion cues

Drop a marble in a jar or move a sticky note across a board each time you complete a task.

Support your future

Write down where you left off and the next small task to tackle to strengthen your control over every day demands.

Ask for help

Consider seeking support from loved ones, neighbours, colleagues, community groups or professionals.

Eight tips for
combating loneliness

Ree Young, works for Mind mental health charity as a ‘befriender’ – this means working with people aged 50 and over in the city of Leeds – who may be struggling with social isolation or loneliness.

Young advises these people on how to get social, even when you don’t want to. Here are her tips.

How to combat loneliness

Social isolation affects us all

27%

of adults reported they felt lonely always, often or some of the time in data published by the Office for National Statistics in 2024.

7%

reported that they felt lonely always or often.

How to combat loneliness

Stay socially active

Check out what’s going on at your local community centre or learn something new to make connections.

Use technology

Look up old friends online, or use video-call features to connect with those who don’t live nearby.

Get creative

Why not learn how to crochet, write short stories, plant a herb garden or play the ukulele in a group? 

Adopt a pet

They can provide companionship, a listening ear and a structured routine. They can be good listeners and stroking them can make us feel calmer and more at ease. Even the smallest pets, like fish, can bring us joy and a sense of purpose.

REE YOUNG, BEFRIENDER

How to tackle loneliness

Join a death cafe

They are safe and inclusive spaces for people to be curious about death in a supportive environment. 

Try citizen science

It’s a great way to feel part of a community, while also contributing to worthwhile initiatives. 

Explore your faith

Try attending services if spiritual practices are important to you. They can offer strong support networks and open doors to new people.

Seek professional help

If you are unsure what support is available, speak to your GP. Research local charities and find out what services they have to offer, and try accessing local befriending, group or peer-support services.

There is nothing shameful about asking for help.

This is despite the fact that Rayner, who was forced to quit the cabinet last year, is still being probed by HMRC after she admitted to underpaying stamp duty on an £800,000 property in the well-heeled area of Hove in East Sussex.

According to those familiar with Rayner’s thinking, she is not pushing this idea personally, although they acknowledge that MPs are looking at a number of different scenarios depending on how events play out.

Operation Bring Back Burnham

Starmer is facing a perilous few days after Labour was annihilated in the local elections last week.

Catherine West, the former minister, publicly indicated over the weekend that she will stand against him as a “stalking horse”, widely seen as an attempt to flush out the main contenders including Wes Streeting, the health secretary.

However, earlier on Monday she appeared to back down from her threat, saying that instead she now collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the prime minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September – a move interpreted of being persuaded to pull back from the brink by Burnham supporters.

The prospect of a longer timetable would allow time for the mayor of Greater Manchester, to potentially return to Parliament and join a leadership contest, although Burnham could still be blocked by the Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), which voted 8-1 not to let him stand in a by-election in January.

On Sunday Rayner publicly called for his return as she accused Starmer of “toxic cronyism”. She said that blocking Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election in January was “a mistake” – a view she reiterated during a speech on Monday to the Communication Union Workers’ conference.

Over the weekend, Starmer triggered widespread ridicule amongst many Labour MPs when he insisted he would not step down and planned to govern for a decade.

It is understood that Rayner as prime minister would be prepared to let Burnham stand as a MP and return to Parliament – and even stand aside for him if she cannot turn around Labour’s dire poll ratings.

The offer has piqued the interest of several Burnham-supporting MPs, including prominent members of the Socialist Campaign Group, who are all desperate to prevent Streeting, seen as on the right of the Labour movement, from replacing Starmer.

Many MPs are concerned that Burnham will continue to be blocked by the NEC, which is stuffed with Starmer loyalists keen to shore up the prime minister’s position.

Rayner is the only route back for Burnham

A series of embarrassing U-turns and defeats in the House of Commons, has been severely weakened the Prime Minister’s authority, but he has soldiered on without facing a challenge. However, Starmer is now facing calls to resign from more than 40 MPs since Since Labour lost almost 1,500 council seats in the local elections last week.

Allies of Burnham were panicked by West’s unlikely announcement over the weekend as they are concerned it may trigger a leadership contest before the mayor of Greater Manchester can get back into Parliament. Some are now forming alternative plans to ensure that a candidate from the soft-left wing of the Labour party replaces Starmer in case Burnham fails to return in time.

Some are even encouraging Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader and energy secretary who is popular with the membership, to stand amid reports support for Rayner is ebbing away.

But others still believe Burnham is the party’s best option – even if it means backing Rayner in the first instance.

A Labour MP who was previously supporting Burnham said: “The only route in for Burnham is Rayner. We are doomed if we do not support Rayner.” The MP said Starmer had to be challenged immediately otherwise the momentum to replace him would dissipate.

Another MP added: “The only way Burham can get back to Westminster is if Rayner is PM. Burnham has been letting the soft left think there is a route in when there is not.

“Rayner will let him return to Westminster and even promise to hand over the reins to him in the event that she can’t turn the polls around. She knows this will be a challenge because of the ongoing attacks from the right-wing press so there is a decent chance it would quickly fall into his lap.

“The only difficulty with this plan is three Labour prime ministers in quick succession would not be ideal, but at the moment we can see no other option.”

Rayner would be ‘compelled’ to stand against Streeting

However, this extraordinary offer has not convinced all the MPs currently backing Burnham. Louise Haigh, the powerful leader of the soft-left Tribune group which commands the support of up to 100 MPs, is against the idea and still believes the party should be patient and wait until Burnham is back in Parliament.

She is understood to have reached out personally to Rayner in an attempt to stop her fomenting dissent with the Burnham-supporting contingent.

Sources close to Rayner say her statement last night was an attempt to flush out Streeting. She has told allies that if he stands in the contest she will feel “compelled” to stand against him.

Allies of the health secretary claim Streeting is prepared to stand for the leadership if Starmer’s premiership “falls apart”, but insist he will not be the “first mover”.

Today, Westminster was gripped with growing rumours that a Labour MP is set to resign to make way for Burnham’s return.

Last week, The i Paper revealed that allies of the mayor of Greater Manchester had offered peerages to MPs in a bid to persuade them to stand aside. However, Burnham would still have to be approved as a candidate by Labour’s NEC and win a by-election, all of which would take at least six weeks.

Rayner’s offer to Burnham is not the only sign of co-ordination between their camps. The i Paper can also reveal that several commissions to develop new left-wing policies have been jointly set up by allies of both Burnham and Rayner.

A source said that friends of Miliband are also involved in the commissions, which are exploring new approaches to the economy, defence and justice. Miliband has previously been linked to the position of chancellor of the exchequer in any future Burnham government.

Last week, it was reported that Miliband had privately suggested to Starmer that he should consider setting out a timetable for his departure.