Angela Rayner jokes about missing 'battle of gingers' at deputy PMQs

by · Mail Online

Angela Rayner joked that she will miss the 'battle of the gingers' today as she clashed with Oliver Dowden at deputy PMQs.

The pair bantered after Sir Oliver pointed out it would be their last clash before he stands aside when a new Tory leader is installed.

Ms Rayner - filling in for Keir Starmer while he is at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa - even sparked laughter by making heart shapes at her opposite number.

But they did not leave politics entirely to one side, as she mocked him for having pushed for the disastrous early election.

Meanwhile, Sir Oliver grilled Ms Rayner on her definition of a 'working person' - with Labour having promised to protect them from eye-watering tax rises in the Budget next week. 

Angela Rayner joked that she will miss the 'battle of the gingers' today as she clashed with Oliver Dowden at deputy PMQs
Ms Rayner - filling in for Keir Starmer while he is at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa - even sparked laughter by making heart shapes at her opposite number

Ms Rayner said: 'First of all, let me start by welcoming (Sir Oliver) to his new place. Today's our first exchange since he pushed for a July general election.'

She added: 'And the definition of working people are people that the Tory Party have failed for the last 14 years.'

Sir Oliver had begun by saying: 'Can I join the Deputy Prime Minister in paying tribute to the bravery of Sir Chris Hoy? He truly is an inspiration to us all.'

Ms Rayner demanded an apology from Sir Oliver for the 'disaster' left behind by the Tories.

But he told the Commons that the deputy PM did not seem to agree with the respected IFS think-tank that raising employers' national insurance would break the Labour manifesto.

'But does she agree with this, and I quote, 'working people will pay when employers pass on the hike in national insurance'?

'These are her words – so does she at least agree with herself?'

Ms Rayner replied: 'What I'm incredibly proud of is this week, this Government brought in a new employment Bill, which will raise the living standards of 10 million workers.

'Would the shadow deputy prime minister like to apologise for the… 70-year hike in taxes that he put on working people, the crashes (to) the economy and the disaster that he left behind?'

Sir Oliver grilled Ms Rayner on her definition of a 'working person' - with Labour having promised to protect them from eye-watering tax rises in the Budget next week