Angela Rayner tells Labour to ‘step up’ and make case for being in power

<p>Exclusive: Deputy PM defends action against party rebels and says Send system is priority, in Guardian interview</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/18/from-nhs-to-send-the-key-areas-labour-wants-to-improve-before-next-election">From NHS to Send: the key areas Labour wants to improve before next election</a></p></li></ul><p>Angela Rayner has urged Labour colleagues to “step up” and make the case for why the party should be in power as the government attempts to draw a line under a tumultuous <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/05/labour-mps-keir-starmer-first-year-government">first year in office</a> and shift towards a more upbeat approach.</p><p>The deputy prime minister urged Labour MPs to focus on the party’s achievements over the last 12 months rather than always thinking about failures, saying they should all be “message carriers” for what had been done well.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/18/angela-rayner-tells-labour-to-step-up-and-make-case-for-being-in-power">Continue reading...</a>