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NADINE DORRIES: I don't begrudge anyone a break, but Angela Rayner's behaviour demeans her office By Nadine Dorries, Daily Mail Published: 17:49 EDT, 30 August 2024 | Updated: 18:02 EDT, 30 August 2024 e-mail View comments During his doom-laden speech to the country last week Keir Starmer declared 'things will get worse before they get better.' But not, it seems for the second most-powerful person in the land. For her, things quickly got a whole lot better.
Angela Rayner has been filmed raving away wearing a scarlet dress in an Ibiza 'DJ booth' at 4am, smoke cannon and techno lights blaring around her, performing for the cheering crowds just days after her boss sombrely warned the country that there were 'painful' days to come in his tax-hiking Budget this autumn. As Brits prepare to tighten their belts, the 44-year-old granny is living it up on one of Europe's most expensive party islands with actress Denise Van Outen , formerly the presenter of The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 . Angela Rayner seen raving in Ibiza nightclub at 4am She was seen partying just days after her boss sombrely warned the country that there were 'painful' days to come Rayner was seen embracing an Ibiza DJ in the booth at the rave I'm not sure how many of Rayner's constituents in Ashton-under-Lyne could afford to spend their summer break 'going large' like her in a club where the water costs £11 a bottle – and, more to the point, I'm not at all sure that's how they want their elected representative spending her time just weeks into the job.
Don't get me wrong: politicians are human beings – and deserve a holiday as much as anyone else. Read More Ibiza DJ who partied with Angela Rayner is Australian ex surfer who stripped on stage for his wife The role, especially the more senior you become – and it hardly gets more senior than Ange's – is demanding, the hours punishingly long. No one would begrudge her a week or two away recharging her batteries after the election campaign so that she can better serve the country on her return.
Keir Starmer had also planned a summer holiday 'in Europe' this year – but that was nixed by the riots. Instead he has spent several weekends at Chequers with his family. I wouldn't have objected if he'd gone to Cornwall or the Outer Hebrides.
(Some of us might have been happy if he'd chosen to stay there, in fact.) But how ill-judged of Angela, how utterly adolescent of her – to have thought it was a good idea to party like it's 1999 when she's the deputy prime minister and when, after Labour's announcements recently, many fear for the future. The prisons are overflowing, crime is out of control, small boats are pouring across the Channel and further social unrest is only a terror attack away.
Shouldn't she tone it down a bit? Rayner can be seen with a smoke cannon and techno lights blaring around her, performing for the cheering crowds She was filmed in a booth at the rave and was performing to cheering crowds It's one thing to be a social media 'personality' when you're in Opposition, and quite another thing when you're purporting to be a stateswoman. Her behaviour demeans her office. Remember – if anything were to happen to Keir Starmer, Rayner is the woman who would take his place.
It's clear to me that the UK doesn't have a serious deputy prime minister, ready to step in should a crisis occur. Instead, we are stuck with a party animal who prefers house music to the House of Commons. Grow up, Angela – we expect better of you.
Denise Van Outen Channel 4 Nadine Dorries Share or comment on this article: NADINE DORRIES: I don't begrudge anyone a break, but Angela Rayner's behaviour demeans her office e-mail Add comment More top stories.
