What does Angela Rayner really want?

Angela Rayner was fending off questions about whether she was a modern-day John Prescott or, as she preferred, Barbara Castle .

Long before this week ’s comparisons to Prescott and Castle , John McDonnell was hailing her as the “Nye Bevan of the Jeremy Corbyn government” But with Rayner , the historical comparisons themselves are revelatory.

Angela Rayner’s influence is only likely to grow whatever the result of the next election.

She is a significant contemporary political force, but is a changeable force.

As she prepares for government, it would be a mistake to underestimate her intelligence, cunning, ambition and unpredictability.