Angela Rayner labels Tories ‘scum’
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has found herself caught in a scandal after she branded Tory ministers “a bunch of scum” at a Labour conference event.
Ms Rayner was reported to have made her remarks about Mr Johnson at a reception on Saturday evening.
Asked on Sunday morning if she would retract the remarks, she said she believed the prime minister was a “racist, homophobic misogynist”.
“I think he needs to apologise for comments he has made in the past,” Ms Rayner told the BBC, adding: “I will apologise when Boris apologises for saying the comments he has made, I will retract that he is scum.”
The media have taken a varied approach to Angela’s comments, with traditional left-wing papers pulling focus onto the prime minister’s past remarks that have landed him in hot water, and the right-wing papers reporting on speculation Rayner was drunk when she made the comments.
People seem to be far more concerned with my choice of language than the fact that @BorisJohnson has made comments that are racist, homophobic and sexist.
I'm very happy to sit down with Boris. If he withdraws his comments and apologises, I'll be very happy to apologise to him. pic.twitter.com/q1jmc91dGS
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) September 27, 2021
Angela Rayner calling Tories scum shows how much the Labour Party needs Keir Starmer claims the i
The Times reports Angela Rayner calling Tory ministers scum reflects a problem for the left
‘Drink may have been partaken’: Labour colleague defends Angela Rayner over Tory ‘scum’ comments, says the Daily Telegraph – (a popular story from the right)!
The making of ‘am I bovvered’ Angela Rayner, says one Daily Telegraph headline.
Critics of Angela Rayner ‘scum’ comments should stay off ‘moral high horse’, John Bercow says reports the Independent