Angela Rayner has hit back at sour critics who whined about her dancing in Ibiza while on holiday.
The Deputy Prime Minister was filmed enjoying herself in a DJ booth with her arms in the air during a night out last week. Ms Rayner voiced her frustration about the backlash she faced – and said women are judged more than their male counterparts.
She said: “I’m working class, I like to dance, I like dance music.” The Deputy PM told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “I take my job really seriously and what I do. I’m always in Parliament and I’m always doing what needs to be done.” Ms Rayner continued: “You’ve got to have downtime as well. Everybody has to have downtime. But I do take my job really seriously.”
The Labour frontbencher was filmed partying alongside Australian music producer DJ FISHER, who she described as a “great guy”. Former Tory cabinet member Nadine Dorries was among those who criticised the Deputy PM after the clip of her dancing went viral.
Responding to those griping at her, she said: “I’m working class. I like to dance, I like dance music. I got criticised for going to the opera, if you remember, I was a champagne socialist for going to the theatre.”
Ms Rayner said it empthasises the treatment women in public life face. She said she was “frustrated” at the scrutiny she faces over what she wears rather than what she does. Ms Rayner said: “Being a woman in politics, I think we get judged.
“The day I walked into Number 10, which was an incredible day for me… there was just so much more commentary on what I was wearing. I spent years, I came off my council estate, I’ve worked really, really hard I brought my child up when I was 16, and I’ve worked my way to be respected, to get to this position, to show that I’ve got worth in what I’m doing.
“And you’re talking about what dress I’m wearing or what jacket I’m wearing. I’m trying to do a job for people here, and I think that distracts sometimes.
“And it’s frustrating because it’s like, well, let’s talk about the substance.”