By Bill Heaney
Say what you like about Labour’s Angela Rayner, and I am sure many of you do just that.
But you have to admit that she is what her fellow MPs in the House of Commons call “box office”.
Ms Rayner was called to the Dispatch Box on Wednesday to take on her Conservative opposite number, the depute Conservative leader, Dominic Raab.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was away at the funeral of former Speaker Betty Boothroyd, of happy memory.
“Our thoughts are with her family today. I am sure the whole House will join me also in paying tribute to Betty Boothroyd and Paul O’Grady, whose sad death was announced today. He was a national treasure and a true northern star, and he will be greatly missed.”
The moment PMQs began, Angela was straight in there with the stiletto – “This week, the Government announced their so-called antisocial behaviour policy. It has only taken 13 years. Look, I will give him some credit: the Deputy Prime Minister knows first-hand the misery caused by thugs and their intimidating behaviour, lurking with menace, exploding in fits of rage, creating a culture of fear, and maybe even—I do not know—throwing things. So I ask him: under his new antisocial behaviour policy, does he think more bullies will be brought to justice?”
Dominic Raab parried the question: “If the right hon. Lady was serious about standing up for communities and people who suffer from the scourge of antisocial behaviour, she would back our plan to deal more swiftly with these issues, make sure we ban drugs beyond the conventional ones and give police the powers they need.
“If Labour really wants to protect the public, it will back our plans for parole reform to make sure that murderers, terrorists and child killers are not allowed out free to threaten other people, and reintroduce the ministerial veto that Labour took away.”
The gloves were off from the start and Angela Rayner threw a low blow immediately: “I would like to see the ministerial code introduced and adhered to on the Government Benches, because it is not just [Dominic Raab’s] department where antisocial behaviour is running out of control.
“It is happening across the country: police officers disappearing from our streets, replaced by criminals plaguing our towns and leaving people feeling unsafe. The truth is that the Conservatives are missing in action in the fight against crime.
“Can he tell his constituents and the public why, after 13 years of his party in government, there are now 6,000 fewer neighbourhood police officers on Britain’s streets?”
Dominic Raab didn’t look comfortable.
He said: “One thing never changes: Angela Rayner always comes with her usual bluster and political opportunism. Let me tell her what I have been doing this week. We have delivered new legislation to support the victims of crime, including rape, and to protect the public. We have delivered a plan to stamp out antisocial behaviour and we have supported families with their energy bills. What has she done? What have Labour Front Benchers done? They tried to block our small boats Bill. That is the difference between them and us. We deliver for Britain; she likes to play her political games.”
A Reclaim the Night demo by women in Vale of Leven. Top of page picture: Angela Rayner – “rape survivors are waiting on average more than three years for their cases to come to court”.
Throwing things!
Was Gordon Brown not the boyo for that with the mobile phone apparently being the preferred bit of kit to lob across the room.
Indeed he was, Willie. They’re ten a penny in the Commons since the MPs get them for nothing.