Do Angela Rayner's constituents want her to become PM?

After former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said she had been "exonerated" of claims she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax", does she now want to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister?

The Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester has now paid £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty for her £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex.

What do people in her constituency think of Rayner's chances of making another house move - this time to 10 Downing Street?

Sue Wilson, a 70-year-old Conservative voter from Stalybridge, said Rayner's tax situation was "ridiculous".

"I don't think she's right for PM - I don't think there's anybody right for it," she said.

Wilson said she felt politicians were not given enough time to work through problems, and that Starmer should be given longer in Downing Street.

"Rome wasn't built in a day - it doesn't happen overnight, give him the term and see how he goes," she suggested.

David Hubbert said many voters had "lost a lot of confidence" in Rayner after she resigned as deputy prime minister.

The 64-year-old described the political manoeuvring of recent days in Westminster as being "like a circus - and it's full of clowns as well".

Sources close to Rayner have told the BBC she would be prepared to enter a leadership contest as a candidate of the centre-left.

But Hubbert said any change of leader for Labour "won't be any different, because they are the same policies".

He said Starmer should resign and if he "had to back a Labour candidate" he would like to see Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham leading the country.

Denise Popat, from Stockport, questioned the timing of the announcement about Rayner's tax affairs having been settled.

The 70-year-old said she believed the outcome would have been different "if that had been you or me".

"She doesn't have the skills to be a world leader," she added. "She isn't someone I would choose."

Meanwhile Joanna Coleman, from Hastings in East Sussex, said she had "simply had enough of leadership challenges" after 14 years of changing Conservative prime ministers before the July 2024 general election.

"Government is there to govern," said the 64-year-old. "Not for the political elite to climb to the top - it's a distraction."

Both women said they felt Starmer should remain as PM given global events including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Craig Dillon, 34, said he was "personally not much of a fan of Labour over the past 18 months".

The party had not kept up with promises over issues like housing or the "flip flop" on winter fuel allowances while in power, he said.

"It seems as if it's Greens and Reform taking the lead on everything."

He said he felt Burnham was a better choice to become Labour leader than Rayner because "he has more experience".

David Clapham, from Ashton, revealed he had recently crossed the red-blue political divide for the first time.

"I voted Labour all my life," said the 71-year-old. "But this time, when they got in power, what did they do? Picked on pensioners; they came after the heating allowance."

"I tell you now - I never thought I would - I voted Conservative."

When asked about who he would like to see take part in any Labour leadership contest, he replied: "I know he's not an MP yet but I would say Andy Burnham. Give him a go, not Angela Rayner."

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