Deputy PMQ Review: Rayner-Raab a breath of fresh air from the usual technocrats

In the wake of the NEC's decision on Corbyn, Angela Rayner is a left-wing light at the end of the tunnel

Today’s Deputy PMQs was certainly more adversarial than usual. Sunak and Starmer certainly go at it, but you can really see the distaste both deputies have for one another.

Antisocial behaviour is a difficult topic for the bully Dominic Raab to have any legitimacy on. Furthermore, on this issue, it is simply much easier to be in opposition. People in Britain feel that the police are failing them in numerous ways, and Rayner appealed to this well.

The Deputy Labour leader went on to passionately attack the rape charge rate under the Government. Labour has done well to once again present themselves as a ‘tough on crime’ party, which is no doubt helped by the the CV of the ‘Lefty Lawyer’ who has prosecuted many rapists throughout his career.

More impressive, however, was the SNP Group Deputy Leader Mhairi Black. She vehemently attacked the Government for the embarrassing videos of the former Chancellor and Health Secretary released over the last few days. Raab did a good job deflecting, citing the Labour frontbench’s silence on the matter. Labour cannot take a clear line on second jobs, as many of their Shadow Ministers take huge paydays on the side, when they should be busy serving their constituents.

Perhaps this was one of the few strategic calls that Corbyn got right, when he told his frontbench that they would not be allowed second jobs. It’s a pity this hasn’t continued under Starmer.