Angela Rayner

The subject of this article is standing for re-election to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on 4 July, and has not been an incumbent MP since Parliament was dissolved on 30 May. Some parts of this article may be out of date during this period. Please feel free to improve this article (but note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed) or discuss changes on the talk page.

The Right Honourable Angela Rayner
Official portrait, 2019
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 September 2023
Leader	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Harriet Harman (2015)
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 September 2023
Leader	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Lisa Nandy
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 April 2020
Leader	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Tom Watson
Party political offices 2020–2021 Chair of the Labour Party In office 5 April 2020 – 8 May 2021 Leader Keir Starmer Preceded by Ian Lavery Succeeded by Anneliese Dodds Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator In office 5 April 2020 – 8 May 2021 Leader Keir Starmer Preceded by Ian Lavery Andrew Gwynne Succeeded by Shabana Mahmood
Shadow portfolios 2016–2023 Shadow Secretary of State 2021–2023 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2021–2023 Future of Work 2020–2023 First Secretary of State 2016–2020 Education Shadow Minister 2021–2023 Cabinet Office 2016–2016 Women and Equalities 2016–2016 Pensions
Member of Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne
In office 7 May 2015 – 30 May 2024
Preceded by	David Heyes
Majority	4,263 (11.1%)
Personal details
Born	Angela Bowen (1980-03-28) 28 March 1980 (age 44) Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Mark Rayner ​ ​ (m. 2010; sep. 2020)​
Children	3
Residence(s)	Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England
Alma mater	Stockport College
Signature
Website	www.angelarayner.co.uk

Angela Rayner (née Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician serving as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party since 2020, and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities since 2023. Rayner has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. She ideologically 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. Selected to contest Ashton‑under‑Lyne in 2014 and elected for the seat at the 2015 general election, Rayner was appointed Shadow Minister for Pensions by Jeremy Corbyn in January 2016. She was promoted in July 2016 to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. As Shadow Education Secretary, she proposed the creation of a National Education Service modelled on the National Health Service (NHS).

Rayner endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, who came second to Keir Starmer, then successfully stood for the deputy leadership, after which she was appointed Shadow First Secretary of State. She was also appointed party chair and national campaign coordinator but was removed from these roles in a reshuffle following Labour's poor performance at the 2021 local elections, subsequently being appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work. She was appointed Shadow Deputy Prime Minister in a 2023 reshuffle, and was also appointed Shadow Levelling-Up Secretary and Strategic Lead for Labour's New Deal.