Politics
Greg Evans
Nov 12, 2022
ITV
Deputy leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner has been supported after she opened up about the cosmetic surgery she received on her breasts after giving birth.
In an extensive and honest interview with Jim Packard of the Financial Times, 42-year-old Rayner admitted that she underwent surgery on her breasts when she was 30 after trying to lose weight after giving birth.
Rayner said: "I had my boob job on my 30th birthday, I’d lost six stone thanks to my personal trainer, but my boobs just looked like two boiled eggs in socks. You know, like basset hound ears. You can’t be 30 and have a chest like an 84-year-old granny. I had spent about 14 months losing my baby weight, I was 17 stone after I had my children."
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The MP borrowed £5,600 for the surgery however, this is just a very small part of a huge interview where she talks about her own politcal beliefs, her working relationship with Keir Starmer and her difficult upbringing.
However, many publications have instead decided to focus on Rayner's story about her surgery rather than some of the more important and newsworthy parts of the interview.
This had led many people to step in and defend Rayner against the 'misogyny' being aimed at her with some headlines on Saturday.
\u201cLABOUR: If they're this angry about Angela Rayner taking out a \u00a35,600 loan for an operation, wait until they hear how much Tory donor money Boris Johnson spent doing up his flat.\u201d— The DM Reporter (@The DM Reporter) 1668207454
\u201cAnd? Why would people care what Angela Rayner does In her personal life that has absolutely no implications regarding her being an MP? The state of our media at present. Absolutely blatant misogyny. @SkyNews should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.\u201d— simon dale (@simon dale) 1668256961
\u201capols for being a killjoy but it's been amazingly frustrating watching what was a long and really interesting interview with Angela Rayner - a senior politician! - turned into "hohoho, she talked about her BREASTS" by several news outlets\u201d— Marie Le Conte (@Marie Le Conte) 1668258542
\u201cThis is an excellent interview by @PickardJE. Shame the media pickup is so focused on one specific bit in a long piece about a fascinating and inspiring woman. Anyway, worth reading in full: https://t.co/HDtt2G7fSY\u201d— Evan O\u2019Connell (@Evan O\u2019Connell) 1668262581
\u201cAnd this makes Angela Rayner a better or worse politician?\nTotally pointless headline from @DailyMailUK\u201d— peteway (@peteway) 1668258969
This is hardly the first time that Rayner's body has been the subject of newspaper scrutiny and speculation. In April, The Mail on Sunday accused Rayner of trying to distract the then prime minister Boris Johnson by “crossing and uncrossing her legs” during PMQs.
In response, Rayner said "Women in politics face sexism and misogyny every day - and I’m no different. This morning’s is the latest dose of gutter journalism. I stand accused of a ‘ploy’ to ‘distract’ the helpless PM - by being a woman, having legs and wearing clothes. I am conspiring to ‘put him off his stride’. The rest I won’t repeat - but you get the picture."
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