The Conversation (0)
Harry Fletcher
Jun 29, 2022
Dominic Raab criticises ‘champagne socialist’ Angela Rayner for going to opera
Parliament TV
Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner went head to head in today’s PMQs as Boris Johnson was attending a NATO summit in Madrid.
It was a chance for both the deputy PM and the deputy leader of the opposition to step up and impress – but all anyone could talk about afterwards was Raab winking at Angela Rayner.
Raab took issue with her stance on the rail strikes and accused Rayner of being a ‘champagne socialist’ after she attended a music festival. As Tory MPs were jeering Rayner, he winked at her from across the Commons.
As you’d expect, people had a lot to say about it – not least Rayner herself.
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The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne replied to a comment from Labour MP Toby Perkins on Twitter, which said: “I will never unsee Dominic Raab’s wink from the despatch box at Angela Rayner. I feel soiled.”
Rayner said: “Imagine how I feel!”
\u201cImagine how I feel!\u201d— Angela Rayner \ud83c\udf39 (@Angela Rayner \ud83c\udf39) 1656505522
Many social media users took issue with Raab’s wink and accused him of misogyny after the unexpected moment.
\u201cWhat was this wink all about???\n#pmq #raab #Raynes\u201d— James (@James) 1656501210
\u201cWhat the condescending, machismo, elitism is this? \nAre we saying socialists can't enjoy the arts? \n\nhttps://t.co/t45fZFk5nt\u201d— Lindsay the Bruce (@Lindsay the Bruce) 1656504647
\u201cDid I just see Dominic Raab wink at Angela Rayner mid answer? Bizarre. #pmqs\u201d— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@JOHN NICOLSON M.P.) 1656501847
\u201cMocking a working class woman for going to the opera is so telling. It\u2019s snobby and rank from \u2066@DominicRaab\u2069 Should Prince William not watch football or is it only serfs who need to stay in their class lane? #pmqs #raab https://t.co/6ICX8lxkl5\u201d— Jemma Forte (@Jemma Forte) 1656506574
\u201cDid Raab just wink at Rayner??? #PMQs\u201d— Downing St Wedgie (@Downing St Wedgie) 1656501046
\u201cDominic Raab\u2019s wink to Angela Rayner was vomit inducing #pmqs\u201d— Harry (@Harry) 1656502183
Raab accused the Labour deputy of "champagne socialism" after bringing up her visit to East Sussex's Glyndebourne opera house.
“She talks about working people. Where was she when the comrades were on the picket line last Thursday? Where was she when the Labour frontbench were joining them rather than standing up for the public?” she said.
“She was at the Glyndebourne music festival sipping champagne, listening to opera. Champagne socialism is back in the Labour Party.”
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