Sir Keir Starmer has offered Angela Rayner a Cabinet return in an attempt to curtail a challenge to his leadership, according to reports.
Sources have told The Telegraph that amid the threat of a coup, with Ms Rayner, Andy Burnham, Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting among the possible contenders, the prime minister has privately offered his former deputy a route back into government to strengthen his leadership.
It comes as Sir Keir appears to be in the clear over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. In a vote on Tuesday evening, Labour used its majority to block a potential “sleaze” inquiry, by 335 votes to 223, giving the embattled prime minister a route through the worst of a scandal which has rocked the foundations of his premiership.
He will face questions from MPs at PMQs on Wednesday and it will likely see the Conservatives continue to press about Lord Mandelson.
It will be the last PMQs before parliament is prorogued, ahead of the start of a new session on 13 May.
