Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC over her tax affairs, leaving the way clear for a potential Labour leadership bid as she says she has made no deal with Andy Burnham.

The former deputy Labour leader said she has settled the £40,000 she owed in unpaid stamp duty

It comes as Wes Streeting prepares to launch his own bid for leadership today. 

Ms Rayner has she wants to 'play my part' in a potential future contest, indicating that she may put herself forward for the top job. 

She told The Guardian: 'I'll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it's not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes,' she said when asked.

'Whatever role I can play, I will keep pushing and pushing hard because I want the people out there at the moment who are really struggling… to know that I'm putting all my energy into fighting for them.'

She added: 'I don't think it's a case of each person for themselves, but I do think it's a case of people seeing how they can pull the party together and have the vision to take us forward. You have to play your role as part of a team.' 

However the MP, seen to be a favourite of the Left of the Labour Party, suggested she would not fire the starting pistol on a leadership race herself.