Angela Rayner has said the very survival of the Labour party is at stake and warned Keir Starmer that he \u201ccannot go through the motions\u201d in the face of declining support.<\/p>\n
In a speech at campaign group Mainstream\u2019s spring reception, the former deputy prime minister said she believed the government was \u201crunning out of time\u201d to show it can deliver the change that the public needs.<\/p>\n
In what will be seen as a major intervention, Rayner said it was \u201cun-British\u201d to move the goalposts on indefinite leave to remain, putting her at odds with the government\u2019s key immigration proposal of increasing the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from five to 10 years.<\/p>\n
Rayner said on Tuesday evening in London: \u201cIt is down to us to rebuild this nation and this party \u2013 the question is are we up for this fight? I know we in this room are.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a party, and as a movement, we cannot hide, we cannot just go through the motions in the face of decline. There\u2019s no safe ground and we\u2019re running out of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe change that people wanted so desperately needs to be seen, it needs to be felt. And we have to show that it is a Labour<\/a> government that will deliver it.\u201d<\/p>\n Currently, people can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, giving the right to live, study and work in the UK permanently.<\/p>\n On the planned changes to the immigration system, Rayner said: \u201cWe cannot talk about earning a settlement if we keep moving the goalposts. Because moving the goalposts undermines our sense of fair play. It\u2019s un-British.<\/p>\n \u201cLet us be a country that has sustainable economic migration rules, but one that upholds the British values we want all who live here to respect.<\/p>\n \u201cNot special treatment. But the stability and a fair pathway forward after the sacrifices many have made to build a lawful life in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n Rayner also condemned the policies of Reform and the other opposition parties, which she accused of pitting \u201cpeople against one another for political gain, and who stoke fear through blame\u201d.<\/p>\n The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, who resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary last September, said: \u201cOur very flags twisted into symbols of division, not the unity our values embody. This rhetoric isn\u2019t just false \u2013 it\u2019s deeply dangerous.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we know why they want it to be the national conversation. Because when it comes to our economy, they have no answers. Promises but no plans. Not for change. Not for fairness.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will agree the system is rigged, but they are on the side of those who rigged it.\u201d<\/p>\n Last month, Maryam Eslamdoust, the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs\u2019 Association, called for Rayner to replace Starmer as Labour leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n