Labour’s Angela Rayner brands Tory MP ‘scum’ before being slapped down in astonishing scenes

LABOUR'S deputy leader Angela Rayner was handed a ticking off in Parliament today after branding a Tory MP "scum".

The firebrand leftie was reprimanded for using the slur against Chris Clarkson - a Tory Manchester MP - who called out Labour frontbenchers trying to exploit the Covid crisis.

Tensions between MPs were running high following as they debated the collapse of talks between the Government and Greater Manchester leaders over a financial package for the region after it entered Tier 3 restrictions.

Mr Clarkson was heckled as he said: "I implore members opposite to park the opportunism.

"I know (shadow education secretary Kate Green) thinks this is a good crisis that the Labour Party should exploit, and I know she speaks for a lot of her frontbench colleagues when she says that - you just need to see it in the support, U-turn, oppose approach that has characterised their hindsight-heavy behaviour."

He was interrupted by Ms Rayner who could be heard saying "scum."
Mr Clarkson asked: "Excuse me, did the Honourable Lady just call me scum?"

Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing came down hard on Ms Rayner saying: “From the front bench we do not have remarks like that. Not under any circumstances, no matter how heartfelt it might be. Not at all."

Replying Ms Rayner said: "I think one of the things I'd ask for your guidance on is saying things about the front bench which is inaccurate in their speech and I'd ask them to withdraw it."

Dame Eleanor replied: "It is not for the chair to decide what is accurate or inaccurate, I cannot make such a judgment.”

Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe said of Ms Rayner: "The attitude that I've just seen in this chamber is what turned many of my residents against the Labour Party. It's unacceptable."

Conservative MP Shaun Bailey shouted "absolutely disgraceful" in the direction of the Labour benches, where Ms Rayner was sitting.

The issue came back to a head as Tory MP Katherine Fletcher raged against the comments.

She blasted: ";She has shamed Manchester shamed this House and should apologise."

Mr Clarkson wrote to the Ms Rayner demanding an apology, saying he was "aware that this is not the first time you have used the phrase 'scum' to describe members of this Government and of my Party."

He added: "In the spirit of those promises of constructive opposition and in the interest of providing a united front in the battle against coronavirus, I respectfully ask that you retract and apologise for your comments."

Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans gave Ms Rayner a dressing down for her remarks during a point of order.

He said she should not use "dishonourable language" and some of the words used by bickering MPs "made me wince" in the last debate.