Rayner apologises for Tory ‘scum’ jibe
AngelA Rayner was forced to apologise last night after she called a Tory MP ‘scum’ during a Covid-19 debate.
Chris Clarkson said the insult was hurled at him after he insinuated that members of the labour front bench believed the pandemic was a ‘good crisis’ to exploit.
Tensions in the Commons were high following the collapse of talks between the government and greater Manchester leaders over a financial package for the region.
Miss Rayner did not comment for hours after the debate but eventually she issued a statement saying: ‘I apologise for the language that I used in a heated exchange.’
Mr Clarkson, who represents Heywood and Middleton, had quoted Kate green, labour’s education spokesman, on tape saying Covid was a ‘good crisis’ to exploit.
‘I implore members opposite to park the opportunism,’ he said.
‘I know Kate green thinks this is a good crisis that the labour Party should exploit, and I know she speaks for a lot of her front bench colleagues. You just need to see it in the support, U- turn, oppose approach that has characterised their hindsight-heavy behaviour.’
At this point he was heckled by labour deputy leader Miss Rayner, who appeared to say ‘scum’.
Mr Clarkson stopped his speech to ask: ‘excuse me, did the honourable lady just call me scum?’
Interrupting proceedings, deputy speaker Dame eleanor laing said: ‘Order, order, order! From the front bench we do not have remarks like that. not under any circumstances, no matter how heartfelt it might be. not at all.’ Making a point of order in response to the accusation, Miss Rayner asked for the accusation to be withdrawn.
Resuming his speech, Mr Clarkson said: ‘To clarify, I asked her if she called me that – that is what I heard.’ He proceeded with his speech without withdrawing his earlier comments.
Sara Britcliffe, Tory MP for Hyndburn in lancashire, said: ‘The attitude that I’ve just seen in this chamber is what turned many of my residents against the labour Party. It’s unacceptable.’