It's all going swimmingly! Angela Rayner gets muddy at charity event - but stays silent on Starmer amid criticism she campaigned in London while losing own local council

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 10:07, 10 May 2026 | Updated: 10:12, 10 May 2026 Angela Rayner engaged in a rather different kind of mud-slinging to recover from Labour's elections meltdown - but stayed silent on Keir Starmer's future. The former deputy PM posted images of herself taking part in a 'Tough Mudder' challenge for charity yesterday. Ms Rayner was pictured clambering over a board in muddy water, and covered in dirt posing with fellow finishers. However, as yet there has been no word from the MP on whether she intends to launch a bid to take over from Sir Keir in the wake of the dire local elections results. Dozens of backbenchers have been coming forward to suggest the PM needs to go in the wake of the drubbing at the hands of Reform and the Greens. Sir Keir has vowed to stay in Downing Street for another eight years - and is promising a 'reset' speech tomorrow. Angela Rayner posted images of herself taking part in a 'Tough Mudder' challenge for charity yesterday Ms Rayner was pictured clambering over a board in muddy water, and covered in dirt posing with fellow finishers Ms Rayner is seen as one of the favourites and her response is being intently scrutinised.  London MP Catherine West has announced she will attempt to launch a 'stalking horse' leadership challenge in the morning, urging the Cabinet to act. But questions have been raised over Ms Rayner's prospects after her own local council, Tameside, was swept by Reform. Critics point out that the Ashton-under-Lyne MP spent time campaigning in London in the run-up to the vote, regarded as part of her leadership manoeuvring. Ms Rayner is also still wrangling with HM Revenue & Customs over her unpaid stamp duty. One former minister told the Daily Mail: 'Angela's a busted flush, it's not just her tax... She was campaigning in London and lost her own council.'   Posting on X last night, Ms Rayner said: 'Today, I've been honouring a longstanding commitment to a group of determined school Mums to join them to raise funds for SEND-friendly playground facilities. When the going gets tough…'  Critics point out that the Ashton-under-Lyme MP spent time campaigning in London in the run-up to the vote, regarded as part of her leadership manoeuvring The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.