Red Queen ? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner - out now what a coincid

[Colemans Left Hook]

Red Queen ? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner - out now what a coincidence on timing

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/celebrity/this-hit-job-on-angela-rayner-isn-t-quite-what-the-public-need/ar-BB1k6wcn?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=20024c54dbfc43d8b057d1dd8484dea0&ei=21

This hit-job on Angela Rayner isn’t quite what the public need

“Although the Devil be the father of lies, he seems, like other great inventors, to have lost much of his reputation by the continual improvements that have been made upon him.” So wrote Jonathan Swift in 1710. These days, Swift’s improved liars – politicians – might express an obsession with stamping out fake news and disinformation, but we all know that when it comes to their own records and background, the truth is rarely so readily found.

Casting himself in the Swiftian role, Tory grandee Michael Ashcroft has decided to challenge what he sees as the carefully constructed image of Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner. Red Queen?, an unofficial biography, follows Rayner from her 1980 birth to the present day, picking over claims about her childhood, interviewing disgruntled ex-colleagues and -neighbours, and delving into the drama around her financial affairs. He defends his investigation into the formidable redhead by saying, rather backhandedly, “she is now close enough to power to be taken seriously”.
You can’t accuse Ashcroft of not being serious: his research into Rayner’s background is forensic. Beginning with her birth in Stockport, the book pulls on family trees and social-services reports to paint a picture of the deprived upbringing Rayner had. While her ancestry was solid Stockport stock – there are wire weavers, machine operators and box makers behind her – Rayner’s immediate home life was, as she has long described it, less grounded. Her mother and father didn’t show much affection. As Ashcroft puts it, “the explosive nature of their marital relationship, and their own bleak childhoods, meant they were not in the habit of indulging their own children with so much as a hug or a kiss”.

Rayner’s principal line of attack has always been to hold up her background as a working-class northern girl who left school with a limited education and a teenage pregnancy. It’s the “look how far I’ve come” defence. And while most of us might be sick of hearing the “four Yorkshirewomen” routine, the snobbery she has experienced in Parliament and in the press is real. Rayner has given interviews describing a lack of parental love, and has served as her mother’s carer during periods of mental illness, which helped to compensate for the latter’s illiteracy. (With this in mind, it seems unnecessarily unkind for Ashcroft to quote an old neighbour claiming that Rayner’s mother was so unwashed, she garnered the ironic nickname “Persil White”.)

From joining the Girl Guides to flunking her exams, enduring the trials and tribulations of teenage motherhood to climbing the Unison ladder, Ashcroft uses several of Rayner’s own interviews about her life to produce a patchwork picture of her past. He admits that the book was easily written: Rayner hasn’t been tight-lipped about her history. But the danger with using your background for political gain is that it becomes easy for your opponents to pick open tiny holes. Was she, Ashcroft asks, a carer for a decade, as her website boasts, or just for a few years on her way up the career ladder? Did she live with her ex-husband Mark Rayner after the birth of their child, or didn’t she? Is she a salt-of-the-earth woman, or does she love splashing out hundreds of pounds on personalised AirPod Pro headphones?

After a few chapters detailing Rayner’s rise through the union ranks to the Parliamentary Labour Party, much of the rest of Red Queen? is dedicated to various minor scandals in which Rayner has been unwillingly embroiled. It raises what Ashcroft calls “a series of questions” about the 2015 sale of her property, 80 Vicarage Road, namely whether, given her then-husband lived nearby, Rayner had misrepresented it as her only home in order to avoid capital gains tax and pocket a higher profit. She denies the allegation. Ashcroft later spends seven pages on the 2022 accusation, in the Mail on Sunday, that Rayner flashed then-prime minister Boris Johnson, à la Sharon Stone, at Prime Minister’s Questions. It led to weeks of acrimony and thousands of IPSO complaints. As even Ashcroft admits, it stemmed from an obviously facetious quip by Rayner herself.

But these moments may only feel so petty because they have outsized prominence in Ashcroft’s account, and that’s because Rayner’s actual politics, her ideology, is so thin. “I’m not a Blairite, I’m not a Corbynite, I’m not a Brownite. I’m an Angela Rayner,” she once told The Guardian. On Brexit, she told The Financial Times, she “didn’t have a particularly strong view either way”. She emerges as her boss Keir Starmer, or their opponent Rishi Sunak, usually do – as another careerist politician who has desperately few ideas.

The Labour Party seems hellbent on relying on caricatures of the working-class in the hopes of electoral success. From Wes Streeting’s recent misery memoir to Rayner’s “gobby Northerner” routine, they think all voters want is someone who is “just like them”. Yet one of Ashcroft’s better accounts in Red Queen? is detailing how poorly Rayner’s “Tory scum” outburst went down in 2021, both among outraged Tories and her own embarrassed supporters. Labour’s mistake in these cases is twofold: most working-class people understand the difference between pride and shame, and while they’re not ashamed of poor beginnings, they know better than to flaunt disadvantage as a trump card. And the working class have always been more interested in ideas than identity: that’s why so many of us voted in Mr Eton in 2019. Boris Johnson’s success had less to do with his personality than with his promise to honour the Brexit vote of millions of working-class Brits.

Rayner is usually offered as an example of how working-class children can make it securely to the top of politics. Much of Ashcroft’s biography seeks to cast doubt on this claim, pointing to Rayner’s car-crash interviews on the economy, or catty comments about her from former colleagues. But that only shows how insular parliamentary politics, and the books about it, can be: meanwhile, the obsession with personality and in-fighting leaves the rest of us, on the outside, bored. Rayner is close to power thanks to the failures of the Conservative Party, not any widespread enthusiasm for her and Starmer’s “my dad was a better toolmaker than yours” shtick. Ashcroft and his fellow Tories can pretend they’re enlightening the public by digging in Labour’s dirt. The public themselves know better.

Red Queen? is published by Biteback at £20. To order your copy for £16.99, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

[BillyStubbsTears]

Interesting how many old,  right-wing men are obsessed with digging into Rayner's private life.

[drfchound]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

[Bristol Red Rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

[drfchound]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

[ravenrover]

Hound does this memoir cover all the lies she has told, all the affairs she has had, all the illegitimate kids she has had, all the jobs she has been sacked from, all the freebies financially she has has accepted etc etc etc?

[wilts rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

[scawsby steve]

Hound does this memoir cover all the lies she has told, all the affairs she has had, all the illegitimate kids she has had, all the jobs she has been sacked from, all the freebies financially she has has accepted etc etc etc?

No, Raven, but it does cover the Sharon Stone flash to put Boris off. By God, I wish I'd have been in the public gallery for that.

[drfchound]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

[Sprotyrover]

I have just wasted 5 minutes of my life, that I will never get back!

[Iberian Red]

Interesting how many old,  right-wing men are obsessed with digging into Rayner's private life.

I'd call it unhinged rather than interesting.

[wilts rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

[drfchound]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

I have always known you to be a clever man wilts.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

I think the house situation and tax piece is fair game given it's something she has hypocritically complained about.

Nothing else is though at all. The days of MPs needing classic old school family life are thankfully over.

[wilts rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

I have always known you to be a clever man wilts.

I think you must be confusing me with someone else hound!

[drfchound]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

I have always known you to be a clever man wilts.

I think you must be confusing me with someone else hound!

Ha, I resemble that remark.
I have clicked the “like” on your post wilts so will probably be castigated for doing that (again).

[wilts rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

I have always known you to be a clever man wilts.

I think you must be confusing me with someone else hound!

Ha, I resemble that mark.
I have clicked the “like” on your post wilts so will probably be castigated for doing that (again).

And I have done the same for you - which is the first time I have ever liked a post on this forum (unless I clicked on one by mistake which I wouldn't put past me). Us rebels should always stick together!

[ravenrover]

Hound does this memoir cover all the lies she has told, all the affairs she has had, all the illegitimate kids she has had, all the jobs she has been sacked from, all the freebies financially she has has accepted etc etc etc?

No, Raven, but it does cover the Sharon Stone flash to put Boris off. By God, I wish I'd have been in the public gallery for that.

Crikey it would have been like a vortex SS ,sucked you in never to be seen again

[drfchound]

Hound does this memoir cover all the lies she has told, all the affairs she has had, all the illegitimate kids she has had, all the jobs she has been sacked from, all the freebies financially she has has accepted etc etc etc?

No, Raven, but it does cover the Sharon Stone flash to put Boris off. By God, I wish I'd have been in the public gallery for that.

Crikey it would have been like a vortex SS ,sucked you in never to be seen again

 

[Glyn_Wigley]

I have just wasted 5 minutes of my life, that I will never get back!

It'd be quickeer to read the book!

[belton rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

Unfortunately, for some on here, anyone who suggests any shortcomings of Labour, or don’t think that all Tory MPs are scumbags, must be Tory voters.

[scawsby steve]

Hound does this memoir cover all the lies she has told, all the affairs she has had, all the illegitimate kids she has had, all the jobs she has been sacked from, all the freebies financially she has has accepted etc etc etc?

No, Raven, but it does cover the Sharon Stone flash to put Boris off. By God, I wish I'd have been in the public gallery for that.

Crikey it would have been like a vortex SS ,sucked you in never to be seen again

I'd sooner it be her vortex than Ann Widdicombe's.

[wilts rover]

Yeah, coz no one was interested in a Johnson’s private life.
No one mentioned how many kids he had or who he had been seeing on the side.

He was PM. And actions he took reflected very clearly his lifestyle. It was obvious to anyone with a sniff of him what would happen.

Rayner we're yet to see. I'm disappointed in her more recent positions. She seems to be falling into political life, gaming, and is no doubt influenced by those connected with the political class - Blair, Starmer and similar who control the "left" . I hope she can rise above this.

I know he was PM but the double standards of people are amazing.
And Raynor is going to be deputy PM soon.

Agreed hound. The people who defended Johnson and said he had a right to a private life are now the ones saying Rayner doesn't.

Their double standards stopped amazing me a while ago tho.

And without googling - can anyone name any of the Deputy PM's under Johnson?

Well at least you can’t count me in the people who said that wilts.

I have to admit I do think it's funny when people accuse you of being a Tory. I think 'have they not read what he actually writes'.

Unfortunately, for some on here, anyone who suggests any shortcomings of Labour, or don’t think that all Tory MPs are scumbags, must be Tory voters.

Yes as I mentioned to hound I always find that hilarious/weird. Then again some people just seem to like arguing for the sake of it - which I can't be bothered with.