To her most savage critics – from Tories to the far left – she’s “Rotten Rayner”, a tax evader, freeloader and a “low life… on the make”.
To her commerce union mates, she’s a sufferer of misogyny who right-wing politicians are trying to hound out as a result of she’s working class.
Politics newest: Why the deputy PM almost resigned
However amid the rancorous debate amongst MPs about whether or not she ought to keep or go, there’s one a part of her defence that’s attracting scepticism from mates and foes.
That is her declare that she was initially given duff recommendation by a solicitor. Actually? If she has proof to substantiate that, she could also be within the clear, although there’d little doubt be accusations of an institution stitch-up.
But when not – and the town grandee who’s the PM’s ethics adviser – the Eton and Oxford-educated baronet Sir Laurie Magnus – rejects her defence, she’ll nearly definitely must go.
And along with her resignation – or sacking – would nearly definitely go her hopes of succeeding the more and more unpopular Sir Keir as Labour chief, regardless of her recognition with the get together’s activists.
When she arrived for Prime Minister’s Questions, simply half an hour after her bombshell confession, the Labour excessive command positioned a collective arm round her.
Sir Keir Starmer, who advised MPs he was proud to sit down alongside a deputy PM from a working-class background, put his hand on her left shoulder.
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3:09
Beth Rigby on Angela Rayner’s unsure future
Lucy Powell, the chief of the Commons, sitting the opposite aspect of the beleaguered Ms Rayner, did the identical on her proper shoulder.
Rachel Reeves, who additionally is aware of all about being beleaguered and shedding tears in public, seemed throughout at her and smiled sympathetically.
If Labour feared a brutal PMQs onslaught from Kemi Badenoch, they needn’t have nervous. “Why is she still in office?” the Tory chief started. To this point, so good.
“If he had a backbone he would sack her,” she mentioned within the second of her six questions. However that was it. “But let us get back to borrowing,” she continued.
Inexplicably, the Tory chief ploughed on along with her pre-prepared questions on authorities borrowing. Labour MPs could not imagine their luck. Cue quite a few jokes about missed open targets.
After one other dud Kemi-Kaze efficiency at PMQs, some MPs had been even speculating that Ms Rayner’s survival prospects – slim, at greatest – stay higher than these of the Tory chief.
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3:19
Badenoch calls on PM to sack Rayner
However within the merciless world of social media, Ms Rayner was not spared a vicious onslaught from critics from throughout the political divide. You’d higher hold your cellphone switched off, Angi.
From the spiky shadow international secretary Priti Patel, Ms Rayner was “the property tax dodging, freeloading deputy prime minister” who had “finally admitted breaking the law and evading paying taxes owed”.
There was extra. “She says that’s she’s sorry,” mentioned punchy Priti. “But she’s only sorry that she was caught out. Rotten Rayner should go.”
Nadhim Zahawi, who was sacked as Tory chairman in 2023 after an inquiry discovered he did not disclose an investigation into his tax affairs, added: “Did you think about my children Angela Rayner?
“Breaks my coronary heart seeing anyone distressed about their kids, however the hypocrisy actually does harm.”
But it wasn’t just Tories – who let’s not forget were denounced as “Scum!” by Ms Rayner back in 2021, in what she described as “avenue language” – who were brutal.
The acerbic George Galloway declared: “She’s a lowlife”. For good measure, he claimed she was “on the make” and on “Grocery store Sweep, piling her trolley full”.
However, from the trade union movement, which campaigned hard for the DPM’s workers’ rights legislation, there was unequivocal support.
“I feel there’s an actual heavy dose of misogyny in terms of Angela.
“I wouldn’t want to see a hounded out of an important role by right wing politicians and the right wing media who frankly can’t handle the fact that a working class woman is our Deputy Prime Minister.”
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However there was sympathy from one get together chief, Sir Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats, who mentioned that as a mum or dad of a disabled baby “I know the thing my wife and I worry most about is our son’s care after we have gone”.
Shortly after PMQs, opening a Tory debate on, sure, property taxes, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride opted for ridicule and mockery. “I’m absolutely certain that the deputy prime minister had a good recess,” he started.
“We saw many photographs of her down at the seaside, just off the coast in a rubber dinghy, rather like many of the other photographs over the summer given the reckless policies this government has towards illegal migration.
“She was in all probability celebrating the acquisition of one other property for her property empire, however maybe additionally barely tinged with that nagging doubt as as to if she had certainly paid sufficient stamp obligation.
“Well, we’ll get to the bottom of that in due course.”
Fairly so, Mel. We’ll.
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20:00
Angela Rayner’s tax affairs interview in full
Let’s additionally mirror that on Monday Sir Keir Starmer proudly introduced: “Phase two of my government starts today.” On Tuesday, he knowledgeable MPs, he was “speaking at length” to Ms Rayner. Will need to have been awkward.
And on Wednesday, the PM needed to watch her tearful confession, simply minutes earlier than dealing with MPs within the Commons.
Not an incredible begin to part two, prime minister. Nor for his embattled and tearful deputy, who’s now combating for political survival.
