Angela Rayner threatened to quit Sir Keir Starmer's Government after being handed an "impossible" housing task by the Prime Minister, a book has claimed.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who also serves as Housing Secretary, was said to have been on the brink of resigning from Starmer's top team over plans to build 1.5 million homes within five years of Labour taking office.
In an updated version of Lord Ashcroft's biography, titled Red Flag, Rayner was only talked out of walking out of the Cabinet following a phone call with ex-Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair.
Lord Ashcroft also suggests that Rayner had to battle for her grace-and-favour property at Admiralty House.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner alongside Sir Keir Starmer
PA
In an extract of Red Flag shared with The Mail on Sunday, Lord Ashcroft wrote: “She is still prone to stirring up trouble... one occasion she threatened to resign because she felt she’d been set the impossible target of Labour building 1.5 million new homes.
“It took a call from Tony Blair to talk her down – which, incidentally, tells you how important Blair is to the Starmer project.”
Labour sources also claimed that Rayner's concerns were justified, adding: “The fact is we don’t have enough bricks and there isn’t enough water to supply these houses.”
A Labour MP also told The Mail on Sunday: “I think Rayner realised a while ago that the 1.5 million new homes target is undeliverable.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Angela Rayner's fury centred on housing
PA
"But now the penny’s dropped for Angie’s team that she was set up to fail on this all along.”
However, a source close to Rayner rejected the claims made in Lord Ashcroft's updated book.
“We do not recognise the claims made," the ally claimed.
"Angela is proud to be serving as Deputy Prime Minister in Keir’s Cabinet and delivering on Labour’s crystal clear commitment to build 1.5 million homes as part of our Plan for Change.”
Angela Rayner was campaigning alongside Sir Keir Starmer at Gillingham Football Club in Kent
PAAfter being appointed as Starmer's Housing Secretary, Rayner said there was "no excuse" for missing the 1.5 million target.
However, the construction sector issued a number of warnings about the challenge posed by the pledge.
Rayner was elected to serve as Starmer's deputy during Labour's two-pronged 2020 leadership contest - defeating Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Ian Murray and Dawn Butler.
The pair have had a rocky relationship since being partnered up, with Starmer reportedly attempting to sack Rayner following a disastrous set of Local Election results in 2021.
Earlier this year, Rayner also admitted she and the Prime Minister "don't agree on everything" before insisting he wanted to do his best for the country.
