The most senior woman in the Labour Party Angela Rayner has ended her relationship with fellow party MP Sam Tarry.
The Deputy Leader appeared in the House of Commons just hours after calling time on the relationship on Wednesday to lead Labour’s response on the second day of debate on the King’s Speech.
After telling friends she wanted to start a new chapter, the 43-year-old was eloquent as she challenged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying he was “too weak to deliver the change our country needs”.
Ms Rayner, who shares three sons with union official Mark Rayner, previously described Mr Tarry, 41, as her “soulmate.”
A friend told the Daily Mirror: “She’s been through a lot in her life but Ange is as tough as nails. You saw that this week, when she put her secret heartache aside and took the charge to the Tories at the despatch box.”
Another pal added: “Ange has a lot of friends right across the Labour Party looking out for her. They’ve really rallied round. Breaking up is never easy but she’s bouncing back and getting on with the job of representing people. She’ll take this in her stride.”
Labour shadow minister Keir Starmer sacked Mr Tarry last July after he was accused of giving a TV interview from a picket line outside a railway station while train strikes were taking place. He spoke without permission from the party leadership and was deselected by Labour members in Ilford South three months later.
In April, Ms Rayner recognised the contribution Mr Tarry had made to his Ilford South constituency since 2019, saying: “He is one of the most kind-hearted, amazing individuals and he’s also my soulmate.” A close friend said: “Sometimes people turn out not to be who you thought they were.”
Ms Rayner will become Deputy Prime Minister if Labour take power at the election.
She entered Parliament in 2015, making history as the first woman MP in 180-years of her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.
After serving on the Labour frontbench as Shadow Education Secretary she was elected as the party’s Deputy Leader in 2020.
In September, she became Shadow Levelling Up Secretary ahead of the next election.
Mr Tarry, who continues to be an active member of Parliament, has two sons with paediatrician Julia Fozard.
