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Watch: Rayner flounders over Gaza

Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

Angela Rayner has had better starts to the week. The Labour deputy leader appeared on Good Morning Britain today, ostensibly to talk about her party’s plans for housing and town centres. But if the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne MP thought she would get a soft-soap interview, host Richard Madeley quickly proved her wrong. Following her heckling by Palestinian activists last week, he asked Rayner:

Last time there was a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza, you abstained. A lot has happened since then, there have been a lot more deaths in Gaza. If there was a vote again today, would you abstain or would you agree to a ceasefire?

Stuttering, the politician replied: ‘I mean the challenges that are happening in Gaza… No one can look at the TV and see what is happening. I’m a mother and a grandmother myself and you see the devastation in Gaza…’ Madeley subsequently inquired ‘Do you think there are aspects of genocide, in the dictionary version of genocide?’ Rayner meekly replied ‘I don’t know. You know, the ICJ is the right place for that to be determined.’

Statesman-like stuff. You can watch a clip from her grilling here:

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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