Angela Rayner attends Manchester vigil for victims of synagogue terror attack as she makes rare public appearance after she resigned as deputy PM

Recently-resigned Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner today attended a vigil for the Manchester terror attack victims.

Ms Rayner dramatically left her post in the Government just weeks ago after breaking ministerial code by failing to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax.

Wearing a red coat, the former cabinet minister appeared glum as she huddled under an umbrella for the service, close to the synagogue in Middleton Road, Crumpsall. 

Ms Rayner was pictured hugging Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood who also attended the vigil. 

Her appearance comes amid rumours of a potential comeback for Keir Starmer’s old number two. 

Earlier this week, the PM hinted at a possible return for Ms Rayner, hailing her a ‘great story for social mobility’ and saying she will be a ‘major voice’ in British politics for years to come. 

Sir Keir’s comments followed those of Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who on Tuesday declared that Labour ‘needs Angela Rayner back’ for her work on the Employment Rights Bill.

Wearing a red coat, the former cabinet minister Angela Rayner appeared glum as she sheltered under an umbrella for the service, close to the synagogue in Middleton Road, Crumpsall

During her appearance in Manchester, Ms Rayner was spotted next to current deputy leadership candidate Lucy Powell (seen left) who was also in attendance at the vigil

During her appearance in Manchester, Ms Rayner was spotted next to current deputy leadership candidate Lucy Powell, who was also in attendance at the vigil. 

The event also saw David Lammy being booed and heckled as he spoke at a vigil for the Manchester terror attack victims.

Mr Lammy – who is currently stepping in as Deputy PM – stopped his address on several occasions as he faced persistent shouts from the crowd.

The event was held following the killing of two people at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Thursday morning.

As he was introduced, Mr Lammy, who is also the Justice Secretary, was booed and faced shouts of ‘shame on you’, ‘go to Palestine, leave us alone’.

Others in the crowd were heard saying: ‘You’ve allowed it to grow on campuses’, and ‘you have blood on your hands’.

Later on during Mr Lammy’s speech, one person was heard to shout: ‘Empty words, we want action.’

The Deputy PM had told the vigil near the site of the synagogue attack that ‘we must stand in grief, in solidarity and in defiance’.

He said ‘we must stand together’ in ‘grief for the innocent lives that were taken so cruelly – senseless murders carried out on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year, grief that causes so much pain and so much suffering’.

‘Today our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers must be with the families of those who were killed,’ Mr Lammy added.

‘And of course, with this community, this Jewish community, both here in Manchester and in Heaton Park synagogue.’ 

David Lammy was booed today as he spoke at a vigil for the Manchester terror attack victims

A woman shouts during a vigil organised by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester

Mr Lammy continued: ‘Right across our nation, and as the MP for Tottenham, I know the suffering in Crumpsall is all the same as the pain, the worry and the frightened faces in my own constituency and in the area of Stamford Hill – one of the historic homes of the Jewish community in this country.

‘In that sense, London and Manchester are twin communities grieving as one, and the whole nation is with them.’

The Deputy PM told the crowd ‘we stand in solidarity with the Jewish people, because an attack like this is never felt alone’.

He added: ‘Wherever you are in our country, Jewish people, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones are terrified by the events of yesterday – of becoming targets, victims of antisemitic hate, simply for who they are.

‘But I know this about Britain’s Jewish community, a community I have known all of my life.

‘You are strong, you are resilient, and you will never be cowed, and that’s what I want you to know today – that our country, those of all colours, all faiths and none, stand with you.’

In his own speech at the vigil, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: ‘We care about you, we love you, we value what you have given to Greater Manchester over the years.

‘An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

‘That is the permanent principle, the firm foundation on which this city region has been built, by you by us, by everyone here over centuries, that is who we are, and we will not let this break us in any way, shape, or form.

‘I salute the strength of our Jewish community.’