Labour's Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, has launched a fierce defence of his colleague Angela Rayner, suggesting the intense scrutiny she faces from Conservative opponents is rooted in class prejudice and misogyny.
Ashworth's comments come amidst a prolonged Tory campaign targeting the Deputy Leader over her past council house sale and questions about her former marital status. He argues that the attacks are not about accountability but are a reaction to a successful woman from a humble background daring to enter politics.
'Her real crime in the eyes of some Tories,' Ashworth stated, 'is that she is a working-class woman who has got on and done well.' He painted a picture of a political establishment uncomfortable with a figure who doesn't fit the traditional mould, highlighting her background in care and as a former trade union representative.
The rhetoric signals a robust Labour strategy to not just defend Rayner but to go on the offensive, turning the Tory attacks into a potent symbol of the perceived class divide at the heart of British politics. By framing the narrative this way, Labour aims to galvanise its core support and appeal to voters who feel left behind by the political elite.
This very public defence underscores Rayner's pivotal role in the upcoming general election campaign. As a key link between the Labour leadership and its traditional working-class base, her credibility and popularity are considered major assets the party is prepared to fiercely protect.
The ongoing saga promises to be a central battleground, with Labour betting that the public will see the investigations as a partisan witch hunt rather than a legitimate pursuit of truth.
