‘Disgusted’ Rayner slams legs slur
ANGELA Rayner was left “crestfallen” after the “disgusting” smear that she tried to distract Boris Johnson by crossing her legs.
Labour’s deputy leader said sexism and classism were behind a newspaper publishing the views by an anonymous Tory MP.
Ms Rayner claimed the article appeared despite party officials calling it “completely untrue”.
Condescending
She told ITV’s Lorraine yesterday: “When I heard the story was coming out, we rebutted it instantly – like this is disgusting, please don’t run a story like that.”
The report included an anonymous quote claiming Ms Rayner “knows she can’t compete with Boris’s Oxford Union debating training but she has other skills which he lacks”.
The Labour frontbencher said: “All I worry about when I’m at the despatch box is doing a good job, so I was really crestfallen that somebody had said that and a paper was reporting that.
“It wasn’t just about me as a woman, it is quite condescending to the Prime Minister and shows you what his MPs think about his behaviour – but it was steeped in classism as well.”
The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne added that the article insinuated she must be “thick” because she went to a comprehensive school and “promiscuous” because she had a child at 16.
Mr Johnson condemned the report as “misogynistic tripe”.
One Tory MP said there were 20 colleagues who were likely suspects as the source.
Ms Rayner put those troubles behind her yesterday when was joined by Health Secretary Sajid Javid in a challah bread bake-off, hosted by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, at the Central United Synagogue in central London.