ANGELA Rayner has been rubbing shoulders with the elite in her first week in government, but was brought back to her roots as soon as she stepped foot into Ashton again.
The new Deputy Prime Minister walked into a packed lecture hall in Ashton Sixth Form College to face a grilling from the very students she hopes 'will feel part of the change" she hopes to bring,
Students heard about the nasty surprises that were waiting for her in Whitehall, her start to life in politics and how she hopes to deliver the 'change' the Labour Party have repeatedly called for.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP briefly outlined her role as Keir Starmer's number two and being the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
She joked that if 'anything were to happen to Keir, touch wood, then I'd be running the country!
Ms Rayner described how in her first week in power she's already made around 80 decisions, going through numerous security briefings (which the students were not allowed to be privy to) and two meetings with King Charles III.
Starting out with a quick anecdote on rubbing shoulders with royalty, Ms Rayner said: "I went to see the King to get the royal seal for my department as part of the government. But what I didn't know was, when the next day I changed the name of that department, I had to go back to the king again to do it all over again.
"The king said "hmm, back again so soon."
She added that places like Ashton are set to benefit under the new government and how she has to 'bring in millions of new homes across the country' and 'making communities feel supported! Her opening statement was short and sweet with her quips being met with laughter from the students from across the Stamford Park Trust.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
PRO 'NO'
RASHFORD REJECTS THREE OFFERS FROM SAUDI LEAGUE
Reason for Reds' relegation fears is strikingly obvious
THE holy grail for those teams trying to stay above the Premier League's relegation zone is a goalscorer capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis in the top flight.
No one is safe in Old Trafford January sales
THE January sales are here and at Old Trafford everything is available.
How Reds can avoid another Anfield ordeal
UNITED supporters have wondered how many they will lose by at Anfield three times this decade alone.
Rodri targets this season for injury return
RODRI bluntly labelled City's slump in form at the end of 2024 as a 'critical situation, but backed his teammates to pull themselves out of it.
SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN, RICHARD
EVEN if Richard Masters gave a stock 'no comment' answer, it would have been better than simply not talking about the Premier League's charges against City at all.
FBI: Driver 'not alone'
A US ARMY veteran driving a pickup truck that bore the flag of the Islamic State group wrought carnage on New Orleans' New Year's celebration, killing 15 people as he steered around a police blockade and slammed into revellers before being shot dead by police.
Elderly 'at risk' during cold snap
AN IMMINENT cold snap could put the elderly at risk of death, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned as a charity criticised the Government's decision to limit winter fuel payments.
House prices 'strong'
HOUSE prices ended the year on a strong footing, sitting just below an all-time high, according to an index.
Labour rejects council call for abuse inquiry
LABOUR has rejected calls from Oldham council for a government inquiry into historic child abuse.