'Rayner the drainer doesn't need a photographer,' says former minister

Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 24/09/2024

- 12:33

Dame Andrea Jenykns has criticised the hiring of a personal photographer

Dame Andrea Jenykns has criticised the hiring of a personal photographer for Angela Rayner and said Labour are “the most self-entitled I've ever seen in government.”

Speaking on GB News, she said: “She certainly doesn't [need a photographer] and what does it look like? I mean, I think she should be nicknamed Rayner the Drainer. She's draining taxpayers' resources.

“But they're just so out of touch. That's what I find frustrating. I can't stand hypocrisy, the way they criticised Conservative governments over the years, and she was the worst critic.

“She's been getting all these donations, getting her clothes paid for, and now she’s in government she’s spending nearly 70 grand of taxpayers’ money. I think it's completely off.

“I was a minister and a lot of the videos got done on my phone. And even as an MP over the years I had my phone.

“I've been editing videos myself over the years. I don't expect her to do that, because she's obviously busy being the deputy prime minister, but I'm just saying you don't need somebody. She’s got a big team; anyone can take a picture on their phone.

“Earlier she was having a picture drinking a glass of cider or something. Does she really need someone paid nearly £70,000 worth of taxpayers’ money to take pictures like that?

“It looks awful. We're taking money off our pensioners, and she's paying nearly 70 grand for a photographer.

“I found a clip early this morning of Starmer in June speaking to some NHS workers, and he actually had the gall to say that politicians have become too self-entitled. That was in June.

“And what are they doing? Become the most self-entitled I've ever seen in government.”

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