Angela Rayner shed tears of joy as she kicked off the Labour Party Conference today. Her evident emotions were shown just minutes after it was revealed that a Labour donor footed the bill for her holiday in New York.
It is the latest in a series of “freebie” controversies to rock the party in recent days, with the deputy PM insisting she did not break any rules.
The Deputy Prime Minister took centre stage this morning to open the event in Liverpool, the first to coincide with the party being in power in 15 years.
Ms Rayner became emotional as she expressed gratitude to voters who supported the party in the July election, saying: “You entrusted us with the task of change, and we will not forget it.
“You kept faith with us, and we will keep faith with you.” She also took a swipe at Conservative MP and leadership challenger Kemi Badenoch, mentioning her feud with former Doctor Who actor David Tennant.
Angela Rayner appeared to become emotional at one point during her speech (Image: GETTY/PA)
Ms Badenoch previously branded Tennant a “bigot” after he criticised her stance on trans rights. Ms Rayner joked: “It was bad enough when they had to deal with Nigel Farage during the election, now she’s doing side deals with the Daleks!
“At least after three months as Shadow Housing Secretary, Kemi finally showed concern for a tenant. Shame it was David Tennant!”
Ms Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are facing significant scrutiny for their decision to accept donations of free clothes – something all three have no said they will no longer do.
The party already braced for a tough conference, as trade unions push for the reinstatement of universal winter fuel payments for pensioners, after the Government announced plans to means-test the £300 benefit, ruling an estimated 10 million people out.
Ms Rayner told attendees: “They thought our party was finished. But this year, Conference, we made history together. This wasn’t just a victory for Labour, but a triumph of our values.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner (Image: Getty Images)
The speech came as fresh scrutiny arose over Ms Rayner’s New Year trip to New York, paid for by a Labour donor, with reports revealing that her former partner Sam Parry joined her in a lavish £2million apartment on the 56th floor of a Manhattan building, which comes complete with gym, jacuzzi, and pool.
While Mr Tarry covered his own flight costs, he stayed in the accommodation provided by Lord Alli, whose donation of clothes to Sir Keir and his wife Victoria are already a source of considerable controversy.
Addressing the situation, Ms Rayner insisted that she followed the rules, described the trip as a “private holiday” and said she had disclosed the details out of an abundance of transparency, given Lord Alli’s status as both a friend and a donor.
On BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, she said, “I don’t believe I broke any rules.
“I disclosed the use of the apartment because I felt it was important to be transparent, even though it was a personal holiday.”
She also hit out at reports suggesting strife in Downing Street focused on Sue Gray, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.
Leaks about Ms Gray’s £170,000 salary while other special advisers have seen their pay held down have contributed to reports of a fractious atmosphere within Number 10 less than three months after coming to power.
But Ms Rayner rejected what she described as a “caricature”, saying the Government was “really focused on making sure we deliver” and that Ms Gray was doing an “exceptional job”.
She added: “It angers me, as someone who has been a trade union rep in the past and who wants to bring workers’ rights, that somehow it’s OK to demonise workers in their workplace through the press and the media.”
The two rows risk overshadowing the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledging they were “frustrating” and “a distraction” for a party wishing to talk about its agenda in Government.
