Labour MP Angela Rayner has said she has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing in an investigation over her tax affairs, paving the way for a potential leadership bid amid uncertainty over British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's future.
Mr Starmer's former deputy did not rule out running in any Labour leadership race but said she would not "trigger" a contest.
Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, told the Guardian the investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty, which led to her departure from the government, had "clipped her wings".
"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. Ms Rayner said she was "relieved" she could "get on with my job".
Ms Rayner has since arrived at Downing Street this morning.
It comes as Mr Starmer faces another day of questions over his future as Wes Streeting mulls whether to mount a challenge against his leadership.
Mr Streeting, who is the British Health Secretary, is believed to have told allies he is preparing to resign today and announce a bid for the top job after Labour descended into open division at the start of the week.
Efforts to lever Mr Starmer out of Downing Street appeared to stall yesterday, with no further ministerial resignations or backbench calls for his resignation as Westminster turned its attention to King Charles' Speech.
But the morning saw Labour's trade union backers pull their support for Mr Starmer, while Mr Streeting's team failed to deny claims he was poised to quit.
If he mounts a challenge, Mr Streeting will need the support of 81 Labour MPs to begin a formal contest.
While some 87 MPs have so far publicly called for Mr Starmer's resignation, they are not united behind a single candidate to replace him.
Other figures regarded as potential challengers include Ms Rayner, Energy Secretary and former party leader Ed Miliband and armed forces minister Al Carns.
In an article for The New Statesman published today, former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns said: "We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions. We need action."
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has questioned whether any of Mr Starmer’s rivals can muster the necessary support to launch a contest.
Mr Starmer himself is expected to fight any leadership challenge, and spent yesterday afternoon meeting ministers and Labour MPs as he sought to avert a coup.
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He will today seek to wrest back control of the political agenda with the introduction of legislation overhauling social housing and the "right to buy".
Ahead of the introduction of the Social Housing Renewal Bill, intended to boost the supply of council homes, Mr Starmer said his Government was "taking responsibility, rebuilding social housing, and delivering the change people voted for".
Meanwhile, the prospect of a return to Parliament for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham receded as more MPs declared they did not intend to give up their seats to allow him to contest a by-election.
Manchester MPs Afzal Khan and Jeff Smith had been rumoured in Westminster to be willing to make way for Mr Burnham.
But both men expressly denied to the Press Association that they were preparing to stand down.
