UK politics live: Rayner insists Labour members in US using ‘their own time’ after Trump-Starmer election row
Trump campaign has filed complaint with US Federal Election Commission to allege interference by Labour Party
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Angela Rayner has said that Labour staff campaigning in the United States do so “in their own time”, after Donald Trump’s campaign accused Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party of interfering in the US election.
Filing a complaint with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) which accuses Labour of illegal foreign campaign donations, the campaign’s co-manager Susie Wiles claimed: “The far-left Labour Party has inspired Kamala’s dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric.
“In recent weeks, they have recruited and sent party members to campaign for Kamala in critical battleground states, attempting to influence our election.”
The claims follow reports of senior Labour officials meeting with Kamala Harris’ campaign, and Labour Party staffers volunteering on the ground for her campaign.
Asked about the row as she deputised for the prime minister at PMQs on Wednesday, Ms Rayner said: “People in their own time often go and campaign. And that is what we have seen. It happens in all political parties.”
She added: “People go and campaign, and do what they want to do in their own time with their own money.”
Lib Dems warn against national insurance hike for care firms
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper urged the government not to increase national insurance contributions for care firms ahead of the Budget next week, warning that doing so could affect up to 18,000 small care firms and make it harder for people to access care.
Angela Rayner replied: “Well again I won’t speculate on the Budget, not least with the chancellor sat at the side of me.
“But ... I will reiterate what the chancellor has said and what the prime minister has said, this will be a budget that recognises working people of this country and the enterprise in this country has been hard hit by the 14 years of the Conservatives.
“We will rebuild Britain and we will grow our economy to pay for our public services.”
Rayner says Labour staff volunteering in US election do so ‘in their own time'
Asked by the SNP’s Stephen Flynn about the Trump campaign’s complaint against Labour, Angela Rayner told PMQs: “People in their own time often go and campaign. And that is what we have seen. It happens in all political parties.”
She added: “People go and campaign, and do what they want to do in their own time with their own money.”
Dowden and Rayner exchange jokes over final ‘battle of the gingers'
Noting that it will be their final PMQs exchange, Oliver Dowden has asked Angela Rayner to join him in sending the King their best wishes in his visit to Samoa, as he pressed her to confirm that Labour recognises the Commonwealth’s “unique role” and will commit to deepening these ties.
Drawing laughs as she replied: “I will miss our exchanges”, Ms Rayner added: “The battle of the gingers, the late nights voting. And in that spirit, I will agree ... the King does a tremendous job and so did the late Queen.
“The Commonwealth is very important and that’s why the King and the prime minister at the moment are working together.”
Mr Dowden replied that “our Commonwealth family is brought together by historical and cultural ties”, joking: “Indeed, much like the pair of us.”
Dowden asks Rayner whether she agrees with her past remarks on employer NI hike
Citing Angela Rayner’s past remarks that “working people will pay when employers pass on the hike in national insurance”, Oliver Dowden pressed her to answer whether “she will at least agree with herself”.
Ms Rayner replied that she is incredibly proud of the Labour government’s new employment bill, and asked whether Mr Dowden would “like to apologise for the 70-year hike in taxes that he put on working people” and “the crashing of the economy”.
Angela Rayner references Boris Johnson’s ‘f*** business’ comment in PMQs retort
Oliver Dowden put to Angela Rayner that the IFS and Rachel Reeves have both said that raising employer national insurance would be a tax on working people.
The deputy PM replied: “I remember the party opposite and what they said to business – what was it? F to business? Whereas this party held an investment international investment summit last week which brought [£63bn] into our economy.
“We’re pro-business, pro-worker and getting on with fixing the mess that they left behind.”
Rayner repeats that it was working people who ‘paid the price of Tories crashing economy'
Oliver Dowden challenged Angela Rayner that she cannot define “working people” and asked whether the 5 million small business owners in the UK fit that definition.
The deputy PM replied: “I don’t know how the shadow deputy prime minister can stand there with a straight face when it was the small businesses – working people of this country – that paid the price of them crashing the economy, sending interest rates soaring.”
Mr Dowden claimed that “the whole House will have heard the deputy prime minister disregard five million hardworking small business owners.”
Rayner jibes at Dowden’s reported push for July election
Asked what her definition of “working people” is by Oliver Dowden, Angela Rayner first began with a jibe at her Tory predecessor, telling PMQs: “Today’s our first exchange since he pushed for a July general election.
“If his own side hasn’t offered him a peerage, I certainly would have.”
And she retorts: “The definition of working people are the people that the Tory party have failed for the last 14 years.”
Rayner and Dowden pay tribute to Chris Hoy at opening of PMQs
Oliver Dowden has opened PMQs by joining Angela Rayner in paying tribute to Sir Chris Hoy following the Olympian’s cancer diagnosis, saying “he truly is an inspiration to us all”.
Labour activists volunteering in US election ‘do so at their own expense', party says
A Labour Party spokesperson has said it is “common practice” for campaigners “from around the world” to volunteer during US elections and Labour activists “do so at their own expense”.
The spokesperson said: “It is common practice for campaigners of all political persuasions from around the world to volunteer in US elections.
“Where Labour activists take part, they do so at their own expense, in accordance with the laws and rules.”
Angela Rayner faces first PMQs as deputy prime minister
Angela Rayner is facing her first PMQs as deputy prime minister, as Sir Keir Starmer travels to Samoa for a visit with the leaders of Commonwealth nations.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments