Labour in turmoil as Angela Rayner refuses to deny saying ‘Starmer couldn’t run a bath’

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has been put in an awkward position after a new book revealed some controversial comments she allegedly made. The book, titled *Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer*, claims Rayner once joked that Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was so incompetent he “couldn’t run a bath.” She was questioned about these remarks during an interview but refused to confirm or deny them.

The book, written by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, also claims Rayner called Prince Andrew a “nonce” and tried to block him from standing in for King Charles as a counsellor of state. Prince Andrew has faced criticism for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and a photo of him with a 17-year-old girl. He paid millions to settle a lawsuit but denied any wrongdoing. Since then, he has largely stayed out of the public eye.

Rayner was asked about these allegations during an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. She dismissed the claims as “tittle-tattle” and said she didn’t recognize many of the stories in the book. However, she admitted that everyone gets frustrated at work sometimes and that people might have been frustrated with her too.

The book also highlights concerns about Keir Starmer’s leadership. Some within Labour have reportedly compared him to an HR manager rather than a strong leader. One aide even joked that Starmer isn’t “driving the train” of the party but is instead sitting at the front of a driverless train, referencing London’s Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has also expressed doubts about his boss’s long-term ambitions.

Rayner is described in the book as someone who “manipulates people,” though she has not directly addressed this claim. The book’s revelations have sparked a lot of discussion, but Rayner has chosen not to comment further on the details.

The book is set to be released on February 13, and extracts have already been published in *The Sunday Times*. These stories have added to the ongoing debates about Labour’s leadership and internal dynamics.