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 buddies, she’s a sufferer of misogyny who right-wing politicians try to hound out as a result of she’s working class.
And after her tearful interview on Sky News, even amongst a few of her political opponents there is a diploma of sympathy for Angela Rayner too.
Politics newest: Why the deputy PM nearly 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 buddies 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 question be accusations of an institution stitch-up.
But when not – and town grandee who’s the PM’s ethics adviser – the Eton and Oxford-educated baronet Sir Laurie Magnus – rejects her defence, she’ll nearly actually must go.
And along with her resignation – or sacking – would nearly actually 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 instructed MPs he was proud to sit down alongside a deputy PM from a working-class background, put his hand on her left shoulder.
Beth Rigby on Angela Rayner’s unsure future
Lucy Powell, the chief of the Commons, sitting the opposite facet 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 fearful. “Why is she nonetheless in workplace?” the Tory chief started. To date, so good.
“If he had a spine he would sack her,” she mentioned within the second of her six questions. However that was it. “However allow us to get again 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 have been even speculating that Ms Rayner’s survival prospects – slim, at finest – stay higher than these of the Tory chief.
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 telephone switched off, Angi.
From the spiky shadow international secretary Priti Patel, Ms Rayner was “the property tax dodging, freeloading deputy prime minister” who had “lastly admitted breaking the regulation and evading paying taxes owed”.
There was extra. “She says that is she’s sorry,” mentioned punchy Priti. “However she’s solely sorry that she was caught out. Rotten Rayner ought to 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 concentrate on my youngsters Angela Rayner?
“Breaks my coronary heart seeing anyone distressed about their youngsters, however the hypocrisy actually does damage.”
Nevertheless it wasn’t simply Tories – who let’s not overlook have been denounced as “Scum!” by Ms Rayner again in 2021, in what she described as “road language” – who have been brutal.
Learn extra:
Rayner admits she should have paid more stamp duty
Rayner came out fighting in Sky interview
Rayner’s tax affairs statement in full
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”.
Nevertheless, from the commerce union motion, which campaigned laborious for the DPM’s staff’ rights laws, there was unequivocal assist.
TUC common secretary Paul Nowak instructed Sky Information: “Angela Rayner comes underneath sustained protection as a result of she’s a working-class lady in a means that frankly Nigel Farage, main members of the shadow cupboard, by no means would.
“I believe there’s an actual heavy dose of misogyny relating to Angela.
“I would not need to see a hounded out of an necessary function by proper wing politicians and the best wing media who frankly cannot deal with the truth that a working class lady 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 mother or father of a disabled youngster “I do know the factor my spouse and I fear most about is our son’s care after we have now gone”.
Shortly after PMQs, opening a Tory debate on, sure, property taxes, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride opted for ridicule and mockery. “I am completely sure that the deputy prime minister had an excellent recess,” he started.
“We noticed many images of her down on the seaside, simply off the coast in a rubber dinghy, moderately like most of the different images over the summer season given the reckless insurance policies this authorities has in the direction of unlawful migration.
“She was most likely 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.
“Effectively, we’ll unravel that sooner or later.”
Fairly so, Mel. We’ll.
Angela Rayner’s tax affairs interview in full
Let’s additionally mirror that on Monday Sir Keir Starmer proudly introduced: “Part two of my authorities begins at the moment.” On Tuesday, he knowledgeable MPs, he was “talking at size” 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 awesome begin to part two, prime minister. Nor for his embattled and tearful deputy, who’s now combating for political survival.
