Angry, Ange? Chancellor Rachel Reeves gets the keys to government’s plush 18th-century grace-and-favour mansion Dorneywood instead of Angela Rayner… despite it going to previous Labour Deputy PM John Prescott
She enjoyed raving on the Spanish island of Ibiza, but Angela Rayner is unlikely to be able to hold any country house parties.
For the Daily Mail understands that Dorneywood, a 21-room grace-and-favour mansion, has been given not to Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, but to Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
It is a blow to Ms Rayner as the last Labour deputy prime minister, John Prescott, was handed rent-free use of the 18th-century home instead of the then chancellor, Gordon Brown.
The official website of Dorneywood, which was given to the nation by the industrialist Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1947 as a country home for a senior member of the government, has quietly confirmed that Ms Reeves is the new occupant.
On the page for the property – which is set in 200 acres of Buckinghamshire countryside – it states: ‘July 2024 to present: Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer.’
The official website of Dorneywood (pictured) has quietly confirmed that Ms Reeves is the new occupant
Rachel Reeves (pictured), the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has been given Dorneywood, a 21-room grace-and-favour mansion
The Deputy PM enjoyed raving on the Spanish island of Ibiza (pictured), but Angela Rayner is unlikely to be able to hold any country house parties
Ms Rayner is said to enjoy styling herself as ‘Prescott in a skirt’, in emulation of her plain-speaking predecessor. However, Lord Prescott occupied a formal Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with its own dedicated staff.
The Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that the Civil Service’s preparations for a Keir Starmer government included a plan for Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, to control a similar operation, which was to be allocated two private secretaries with security clearance to operate at the highest level of government.
But sources say that Sue Gray, Sir Keir’s chief of staff, has sent them to work instead for the PM’s enforcer, Pat McFadden, the increasingly powerful Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
And Ms Rayner angrily denied that she occupies her title in name only after Ms Reeves persuaded the Prime Minister that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds should take a prominent role in the Deputy PM’s ‘red revolution’ on employment laws.
Ms Rayner insists she has been attending powerful meetings of Starmer’s top team and doing ‘unsexy’ work on big policy areas. No 10 did not respond to a request for comment.
Cabinet ‘split’ as Angela Rayner fights bid by fellow ministers to water down workers’ rights package
Cabinet ministers are split over plans to hand staff full employment rights on their first day in the job, it has emerged.
As part of a promised overhaul of workers’ rights, Labour‘s general election manifesto pledged to give staff ‘basic rights from day one’ of taking on a position.
But Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is reportedly facing a bid by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to water down the reforms amid a growing backlash
Ms Rayner, who is spearheading Labour’s ‘New Deal for Working People’, is said to have clashed with Mr Reynolds over the issue of probation periods.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is reportedly facing a bid by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to water down reforms amid a growing backlash from bosses
Ms Rayner, who is spearheading Labour’s ‘New Deal for Working People’, is said to have clashed with Mr Reynolds over the issue of probation periods
According to the Telegraph, the Deputy PM is pushing for staff to be given full employment rights from day one following a short probation period.
This includes the right to take firms to an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal, which workers can currently only do if they have been employed for at least two years.
Mr Reynolds also favours shortening the qualification period for full employment rights but still requiring a probation period of almost a year, the newspaper reported.
‘Day one rights is proving very difficult,’ a Whitehall source said.
‘Angela is less keen on a longer probation period, Reynolds thinks nine months is reasonable. It’s unclear if an agreement will be reached.’
Labour promised to introduce legislation to implement their workers’ rights reforms within 100 days of taking office.
Ms Rayner and Mr Reynolds have been holding meetings with business chiefs amid concerns at the impact of Labour’s overhaul.
Critics have warned against burdening firms with more red tape and stunting economic growth.
Labour’s plans also include giving staff a ‘right to switch off’ from bosses’ messages outside working hours, ending zero-hour contracts, banning ‘fire and rehire’ practices, and bolstering the power of trade unions.
A Government spokesman said: ‘Our number one priority is economic growth and wealth creation which is why our plan for better workers’ rights is designed to help people into secure work and lead to a more productive workforce.
‘This is why we are working in close partnership with business and civil society to find the balance between improving workers’ rights while supporting the brilliant businesses that pay people’s wages.’
