Dominic Raab has been criticised for making a 'bizarre' gesture before launching a verbal attack on Angela Rayner due to her visiting the opera.
The deputy Prime Minister has also been accused of 'sexism' and snobbery after winking while accusing the Labour Deputy Leader of "champagne socialism" because she visited the East Sussex Glyndebourne opera house during the rail strikes. It comes after a heated Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons where two leading figures clashed over rail strikes, the economy, and the Tory party losing two by-elections in just one week.
Ms Rayner had been grilling the Justice Secretary over previous comments he made to people who use foodbanks, stating they "simply have a cash flow problem". She added: "He doesn’t. He spent over a million pounds in nine months on private jets, it shows how out of touch this Government is.
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“At this rate, by 2030 a million more people will be using food banks. How many more working people will be pushed into poverty by his Prime Minister before he says enough is enough?”
In response to the Labour frontbencher's comments, Mr Raab replied: "If the Labour Party, if she wants to help working people, they should be clear in standing up against these militant, reckless strikes." He also accused Ms Rayner of having "flip-flopped" in her position on the strike.
He then winked at Labour's deputy leader and added: "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 was at the Glyndebourne music festival sipping champagne, listening to opera. Champagne socialism is back in the Labour Party.”
Labour MP Toby Perkins reacted to the strange gesture, tweeting: "I will never unsee Dominic Raab ’s wink from the despatch box at Angela Rayner. I feel soiled."
John Nicolson, SNP MP, added: "Did I just see Dominic Raab wink at Angela Rayner mid answer? Bizarre."
Some users on social media were similarly creeped out by the gesture, with one writing on Twitter: "@DominicRaab really isn't good at PMQ's and jeez that wink, how creepy."
Another wrote: "He's the deputy PM and think its acceptable to wink at his opposition? He wouldn't have winked if it was a moon stood opposite #sexism @DomicRaab show some respect. Women are sick of this BS, it made you look a complete idiot too FYI."
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