Angela Rayner

Published: May 15, 2021, 6 p.m.

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It's been an eventful few weeks for the Labour Party - especially for its deputy leader, Angela Rayner MP. Over the course of a topsy-turvy weekend, leaked plans to sack her from her role as party chair and national campaigns coordinator triggered an outcry, which, in turn, led Keir Starmer to instead offer a major promotion.

Her back-story is, however, unusual for one who has risen so high, so quickly in British politics. Coming from an impoverished background, and leaving school at 16 with no qualifications and a baby on the way, she soon blazed a trail as a formidable union rep with Unison in the North West before being elected as an MP in 2015.

By speaking to close personal friends, well-known public figures and commons commentators, Mark Coles reveals the character, underlying motivations - and even the unexpected musical tastes - of the woman who many believe could be the first ever female leader of the Labour Party.

Presenter: Mark Coles\\nResearcher: Stefania Okereke\\nStudio manager: Neil Churchill\\nProgramme co-ordinator: Janet Staples\\nProducer: Paul Connolly\\nEditor: Richard Vadon and Alex Lewis

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