Allies of Angela Rayner expect the Deputy Prime Minister to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the next 12 months. Sources believe Angela Rayner boasts strong support from the Labour Party and union members.

Her allies say Starmer is unlikely to lead the party into the next election. The Prime Minister has been left “gravely wounded” after his government made a humiliating U-turn over planned £5 billion cuts to welfare last week. The likelihood of further tax rises in the autumn has also increased as Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been left with a huge £3 billion black hole in her funds.

The ally of Rayner told The Mail on Sunday: “I think Angela will be the leader. After next year’s Welsh and local elections, if Starmer does not stand down, he will face a challenge. People have just had enough and Keir is gravely wounded.”

The MP added that Rayner is the “most acceptable and most viable option” despite Manchester mayor Andy Burnham being the preferred choice to replace Starmer. This is because he is not currently an MP.

When asked about Rayner’s insistence that she had “no desire” to become Prime Minister, the source said: “That’s what she would say” – adding that of all the potential Labour leaders, she could challenge Nigel Farage as “a genuine working-class woman against a man who just wants working-class votes.”

A recent poll found that 61% of voters think Starmer should quit as Prime Minister. According to the survey by Find Out Now, only 25% think he will still be in Downing Street by the next election.

Even Labour supporters are split 50/50 on the question. Meanwhile, 64% of people believe that Reeves should also be fired.

However, the situation is complicated by the reports that Rayner could lose her Ashton-under-Lyne seat to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. Robert Barrowcliffe, 25, is standing against the deputy Labour leader in the Greater Manchester constituency and believes he is in with a shot at ousting her.

He said: “People are disillusioned with politics, especially in Ashton-under-Lyne where it is presumed to be a safe Labour seat.

“People do not bother to go out and vote because they know it will be Labour anyway. But this time around, Ashton is completely winnable for the Reform party.”