See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR Published: 22:00 BST, 18 June 2026 | Updated: 22:09 BST, 18 June 2026
Angela Rayner has hit out at the 'deeply unpopular' Government's record of broken promises as she warned that time is running out for Labour.The former Deputy Prime Minister admitted mistakes had been made such as over the cuts to Winter Fuel Payment, which had to be reversed.She also urged ministers to press ahead with plans to increase the minimum wage for under-21s, despite warnings that it risks fuelling the youth unemployment crisis.Her latest interventions will raise expectations that she hopes to return to Cabinet soon, having quit last year for underpaying tax on her seaside home, and could even join a future leadership contest.Ms Rayner told the Mirror that Thursday's by-election in Makerfield was 'a line in the sand moment' for Labour.She said the party had a 'limited time' to deliver the change that 'struggling' people want.'It's not unreasonable of the voters to say: 'You said change, you said you were going to improve my life. My life's getting harder, it's not getting easier.''They want to see that we stick to our values and we make decisions based upon what we promised.' Labour's former Deputy Leader Angela Rayner in Makerfield on polling dayMs Rayner admitted it's 'hard to escape the feeling that the public have had towards' Sir Keir Starmer while his rival Andy Burnham is winning voters over with a 'new type of politics'.'The Government has made some mistakes and are deeply unpopular. I think that we have to acknowledge that. You saw that come through in the local elections.'She said it was 'crushing' that people felt the Government had not been standing up for its values.And she urged ministers to implement the proposed removal of age bands in order to ensure 18 to 20-year-olds get the same minimum wages as over-21s.'We made promises, we were elected on that mandate. I think we should work with the Low Pay Commission to deliver that.'
