The Deputy Prime Minister’s salvo against No 10 and the Treasury last week was sparked by her acute sensitivity to patronising Southern metropolitans, it has been claimed.
Friends of Angela Rayner – who demanded soak-the-rich economic policies – say she believes that there is a misogynistic, anti-Northern streak in senior figures in Downing Street.
They also claim that is why Gateshead-born Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Mancunian Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy have suffered hostile briefings recently on their Cabinet futures.
One ally of Ms Rayner said: ‘What is the link? They are Northern women. Angela’s demonstrating a show of strength and solidarity. She is the most senior Northern woman in the Cabinet and feels protective.’
Earlier this year The Mail on Sunday reported that Ms Nandy faces the sack at the next reshuffle because Downing Street complained that she ‘doesn’t work hard enough’. A source said: ‘Lisa seems to work about two days a week on her portfolio.’
