Angela Rayner, former Deputy Prime Minister and Ashton-under-Lyne Member of Parliament, has received a £61,500 advance from publisher Bodley Head for her upcoming memoir. The book is expected to be published later this year and will offer a candid insight into her life and political career.
The memoir promises to provide an unvarnished account of Rayner’s journey, from her impoverished childhood and leaving school at 16 while pregnant, to rising through the ranks to become a senior Cabinet minister. A ghostwriter is assisting in capturing her plain-speaking style, and Rayner will narrate the audiobook version herself.
The timing of the memoir’s release could coincide with a Labour leadership contest, following uncertainties after the Makerfield by-election held on 18 June. Rayner has indicated she may be willing to challenge for the party leadership, especially after resolving a tax settlement issue that had previously led to her resignation as Deputy Prime Minister.
Last September, Rayner stepped down after admitting to an unpaid £40,000 stamp duty bill related to her purchase of a flat in Hove. The advance from Bodley Head exceeds this amount, helping to ease her financial burden.
The book deal came after a competitive bidding war among publishers eager to release a memoir described by a friend as “authentically Angela,” rather than a typical politician’s autobiography. Bodley Head editorial director Alice Skinner praised the memoir’s honest voice and empowering message.
Originally published by UKNIP.
