Markus Andrews

As Keir Starmer gathered his top ministers for a special away day in Chequers for a team-building reset on Friday, one figure arrived in a much more powerful position than she was in just two weeks ago.It is now widely recognised by Labour MPs, across the different wings of the party, that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s influence in this government is greater than almost anybody else.Certainly more than the wounded chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has been beset by economic woes, and even more than health secretary Wes Streeting who, like Rayner, has been tipped as a future contender for the leadership.She was, though, completely unprepared for the shot fired by the Unite union, after its general secretary announced it had suspended her membership for failing to resolve the Birmingham refuse collectors dispute.But while a trade union that looks set to peel off and back Jeremy Corbyn’s new party gave her a headache, Ms Rayner nevertheless is enjoying a surge in influence – for now.Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner (Jordan Pettitt/PA) More

The leader of Unite has described Angela Rayner’s behaviour during recent bin strikes as “totally and utterly abhorrent” as tensions ramp up between the government and Labour’s biggest union backers.General secretary Sharon Graham hit out at the deputy prime minister after the union voted to suspend her in a row over how the Labour-run council in Birmingham treated striking bin workers.She signalled the union could end its long affiliation with Labour after Unite members also voted to “re-examine” their relationship with the party, saying the £1.5m it pays is “hard to justify’”.But allies of Ms Rayner hit back accusing Ms Graham of not denying that her union had voted to suspend a membership that no longer existed. On Friday Ms Rayner made clear she would not be “pushed around” by the union. Unite, one of Labour’s biggest financial backers, claims fire and rehire tactics have been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. The action left streets in Birmingham piled high with rubbish.In a fresh attack on Saturday, Ms Graham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Angela Rayner refuses to get involved, and she is directly aiding and abetting the fire and rehire of these bin workers, it is totally and utterly abhorrent.”The general secretary of Unite has launched fresh attacks on deputy prime minister Angela Rayner More

The leader of Unite has described Angela Rayner’s behaviour during recent bin strikes as “totally and utterly abhorrent” as tensions ramp up between the government and Labour’s biggest union backers.General secretary Sharon Graham hit out at the deputy prime minister after the union voted to suspend her in a row over how the Labour-run council in Birmingham treated striking bin workers.She signalled the union could end its long affiliation with Labour after Unite members also voted to “re-examine” their relationship with the party, saying the £1.5m it pays is “hard to justify’”.But allies of Ms Rayner hit back accusing Ms Graham of not denying that her union had voted to suspend a membership that no longer existed. On Friday Ms Rayner made clear she would not be “pushed around” by the union. Unite, one of Labour’s biggest financial backers, claims fire and rehire tactics have been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. The action left streets in Birmingham piled high with rubbish.In a fresh attack on Saturday, Ms Graham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Angela Rayner refuses to get involved, and she is directly aiding and abetting the fire and rehire of these bin workers, it is totally and utterly abhorrent.”The general secretary of Unite has launched fresh attacks on deputy prime minister Angela Rayner More

Kemi Badenoch has been accused of “staggering hypocrisy” after privately opposing an energy infrastructure project in her constituency, despite taking aim at the government for not doing enough to tackle nimby blockers.In a letter to constituents last month, seen by The Independent, the Tory leader said she has “joined six other Conservative MPs from across East Anglia in writing to Ed Miliband to demand a fair and thorough assessment of alternatives to the Norwich to Tilbury pylons project”.She said the project – which passes through her Saffron Waldon constituency – “risks permanent environmental and visual damage, would hurt house prices, disrupt farms, businesses and community spaces”.The project will see a new 400 kilovolt electricity transmission line built between Norwich and Tilbury, spanning over 180 kilometres. Mrs Badenoch said she told the energy secretary to consider laying the pylons underground, even though such a move is estimated to cost taxpayers far more.The proposed location of the project, which would stretch from Norwich to Tilbury More

Kemi Badenoch has been accused of “staggering hypocrisy” after privately opposing an energy infrastructure project in her constituency, despite taking aim at the government for not doing enough to tackle nimby blockers.In a letter to constituents last month, seen by The Independent, the Tory leader said she has “joined six other Conservative MPs from across East Anglia in writing to Ed Miliband to demand a fair and thorough assessment of alternatives to the Norwich to Tilbury pylons project”.She said the project – which passes through her Saffron Waldon constituency – “risks permanent environmental and visual damage, would hurt house prices, disrupt farms, businesses and community spaces”.The project will see a new 400 kilovolt electricity transmission line built between Norwich and Tilbury, spanning over 180 kilometres. Mrs Badenoch said she told the energy secretary to consider laying the pylons underground, even though such a move is estimated to cost taxpayers far more.The proposed location of the project, which would stretch from Norwich to Tilbury More

Donald Trump has reportedly been denied the chance to address parliament during his state visit to the UK. The decision, which is likely to be seen as a major snub by the US president, comes just days after Emmanuel Macron was given the honour of addressing parliament, where he urged Britain and France “to shoulder the burden of European security” together.According to the Telegraph, Mr Trump is expected not to visit Buckingham Palace or enjoy a ceremonial carriage ride down the Mall in London, which have often been prominent features of state visits from other world leaders. The decision came amid concerns there could be objections from both the public and MPs following calls for Mr Trump to be blocked from addressing parliament earlier this year, with MPs and peers warning the US president “does not respect democracy”. Mr Trump accepted the invitation from King Charles for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK earlier this year, becoming the first US president to receive the honour.Trump and King Charles raise a glass at the US ambassador’s residence during the president’s first state visit to the UK in 2019 More

Tensions are mounting between Labour’s biggest union backers and the government asUnite voted to suspend Angela Rayner’s membership and reconsider its ties with the party, with its general secretary claiming Keir Starmer’s party is not on the side of working people. Unite, which is one of the biggest unions in the country and has long been affiliated with Labour, has accused the government of failing workers in a row over the Birmingham bin strike that could lead to a historic split with the party.It is the latest sign of the deteriorating relationship between Labour and the unions and comes days after several groups, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), piled pressure on the government to avoid more cuts by bringing in a wealth tax. Meanwhile other unions have said they have major concerns that chancellor Rachel Reeves may be planning a tax raid on public sector pension funds.( More