Sir Keir Starmer’s government risks being plunged into a civil war if Angela Rayner is forced to resign from her role as deputy leader of the party over her tax affairs , Labour insiders fear.

Party sources are concerned that such a move would spark a deputy leadership battle at a crucial juncture for the Prime Minister , prompting different Labour factions to push their preferred candidate that was in danger of becoming a “de facto referendum on Starmer’s leadership”.

The deputy leadership of the party is an elected position, as opposed to Rayner’s other jobs of housing secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, which are in Keir Starmer’s gift.

Matters are complicated however as the deputy party leader would be expected to sit on the front bench, leaving Labour and Rayner with a difficu

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