Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair continues to have significant influence over the Labour party, a new book suggests. According to an updated biography of Sir Keir Starmer, a call from Labour’s longest-serving PM stopped Angela Rayner resigning from cabinet.

The Deputy Prime Minister reportedly threatened to quit over the Government's “impossible” target of building 1.5 million homes in England by the end of this parliament. But in an updated version of Red Flag, Lord Aschroft writes that Sir Tony stepped in and convinced Ms Rayner to remain in her post. “She is still prone to stirring up trouble… [on] one occasion she threatened to resign because she felt she’d been set the impossible target of Labour building 1.5 million new homes,” an extract from the book says.

“It took a call from Tony Blair to talk her down, which, incidentally, tells you how important Blair is to the Starmer project.”

A source close to Ms Rayner told The Times: “We do not recognise the claims made.”

The source added that the senior Labour figure is “proud” to be serving as Deputy PM and delivering the Government’s 1.5 million homes pledge.

The housing promise was an important part of Labour’s manifesto, but has faced several warnings from industry experts that it is unattainable.

One property expert even told the Express he will to “walk to John O’Groats in my boxers” if the target was met.

Ms Rayner told the BBC there were “no excuses” for the homes not to be built, however, estimates by the Official Budget for Responsibility suggest the Government will fall short of its pledge.

The fiscal watchdog forecasts that 1.3 million new homes are expected to be built across the UK by the end of this parliament.

Sir Tony was elected as Labour Party leader in 1994 and played a focal role in the creation of New Labour.

He served as Prime Minister between 1997 and 2007, overseeing the Northern Irish peace process, public sector reform and response to the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks.