Boris Johnson and Angela Rayner sparked sparks with a forceful demonstration to the Prime Minister’s Questions in which the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party made her designs on power clear.
Glamorous grandmother Ms Rayner, 41, clashed with the Prime Minister over the UK cost of living crisis as the Commons returned from their Christmas break.
Dressed in pearls, she targeted her refusal to consider a cut to VAT to help hard-pressed families amid skyrocketing energy prices, rising inflation and upcoming tax hikes that will add hundreds to their monthly bills.
She was replacing the leader of the opposition, sir Keir Starmer as he isolated himself with Covid – his sixth time in quarantine.
And that gave rise to a stormy display that led observers on social media to suggest that the couple – who have wildly divergent political views – are flirting with each other.
Mr Johnson, smiling and freshly groomed, responded to his attacks on the cost of living by pointing out that his many roles in the party included the shadow minister for the future of work.
The three-time married Prime Minister added “we all know what job she wants” – an allusion to claims she would like to replace Sir Keir.
And Ms Rayner, her long flowing auburn locks, didn’t do much to tone down that suggestion when she hit back: “I’ve heard that there might be a vacant prime minister’s post soon, so can -being that I should show some aspiration. “
Glamorous grandmother Ms Rayner, 41, clashed with the Prime Minister over the UK cost of living crisis as the Commons returned from their Christmas break.
Clad in pearls, she targeted her refusal to consider a VAT cut to help desperate families amid soaring energy prices, rising inflation and upcoming tax hikes. that will add hundreds of dollars to their monthly bills.
Mr Johnson hit back at her attacks, saying ‘we all know what job she wants’ – an allusion to claims she would like to replace Sir Keir
This resulted in a stormy display that led to social media watchers suggesting that the couple – who have wildly divergent political views – are flirting with each other.
She urged the PM to be more “ambitious for this country”, as working families “are paying the price for his incompetence”.
Before a mostly full, masked House of Commons, she said: “The Prime Minister claims it is not his fault, he blames the world forces, he blames the market. We are an ambitious party, maybe the Prime Minister needs to be more ambitious for this country.
“But the Prime Minister made political choices which brought us here. His government has not invested in long-term energy security, his government has decided to let gas storage collapse. His government has let the energy market run out of control. 27 energy companies went bankrupt last year. And now household bills are skyrocketing.
She added: “Can the Prime Minister still see what is going on?” The working families are paying the price for his incompetence.
Mr Johnson replied: “She talks about energy. I think the House will agree that she has a lot more energy than the current Leader of the Opposition.
Keir Starmer has tested positive for coronavirus again and will miss today’s PMQ battle with Boris Johnson
Sir Keir was forced to miss the budget on October 27 after testing positive that day – just ten weeks ago
Ms Rayner told the House of Commons “even Tory MPs have finally accepted Labor’s call to cut VAT” on energy bills.
Ms Rayner said: “So, will (Boris Johnson) finally stand up to his chancellor and do the same?”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson replied: “They now have the effrontery, having campaigned and she did too, right?”
“Oh yes, she campaigned to stay in the EU. Oh yes, she did. Now they have the nerve to come to this House of Commons and say that they want to reduce VAT on fuel when everyone knows it and he too, everyone knows very well that it would be absolutely impossible if they were doing what Labor would do and re-enter the EU, stay aligned with the EU’s single market. This is the goal of the Labor Party. We cannot trust them on Brexit and we cannot trust them with the economy.
Sir Keir’s Covid Isolation Curse
Sir Keir has been repeatedly harassed by Covid isolation over the past two years. Although he has had the virus twice, he has been forced to quarantine himself four times after coming into contact with cases but has not been affected himself.
September 14, 2020
Sir Keir announces he is entering quarantine after a family member exhibited coronavirus-like symptoms. He made the announcement hours after taking a phone call at LBC radio studios in London. Sir Keir lives with his wife Victoria and their son and daughter in North London. Aides said Sir Keir showed no signs of the disease himself. Angela Rayner replaces him for questions from the Prime Minister.
December 5, 2020
Sir Keir is forced to self-isolate and work from home after a member of his private office tests positive. He completed the then mandatory 14-day isolation, although the party said he was “fine and showing no symptoms.”
January 25, 2021
Sir Keir becomes latest politician to be nuts about the NHS and Trace test, claiming he has been ‘advised that I have to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid- 19 ”. Again, he has no symptoms and is working from home.
July 21, 2021
Sir Keir is forced into self-isolation after one of his children tests positive for Covid. He was warned at lunchtime on Wednesday after confronting Boris Johnson over Prime Minister’s Questions – and passing the Covid tests that morning. He tweeted: “I know it’s my responsibility to follow the rules.”
October 27, 2021
The opposition leader is forced to miss both the prime minister’s questions and Rishi Sunak’s budget response after testing positive. Former party leader Ed Miliband intervenes in PMQs while ghost chancellor Rachel Reeves replaces her counterpart.
January 5, 2022
Sir Keir tested positive again hours before Prime Minister’s Questions, this time on the first day of Parliament after the Christmas recess.