Conservative MPs 'faced abuse' over Angela Rayner's 'scum' remark

Conservative MPs have faced "widespread abuse" after Labour's Angela Rayner used the word "scum" in a Parliamentary debate, the party's co-chairwoman says.

Amanda Milling has written to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asking if he will take action against Labour MPs "who perpetrate abuse".

Ms Rayner made the remark on Wednesday during a Commons speech by Tory MP Chris Clarkson, later apologising for "language I used in a heated debate".

Labour has declined to comment.

Ms Milling, in a letter signed by more than 100 Tory backbenchers, wrote that Ms Rayner's use of the word "scum" towards Mr Clarkson was "unacceptable".

She said it had resulted in the phrase "Tory scum" trending on Twitter and had caused "widespread abuse towards members of our parliamentary party", including abusive phone calls and MPs' offices being targeted.

"We respectfully ask you to take action, reaffirming your commitment to working constructively, asking Labour MPs and party members to act appropriately at all times, taking action against those who perpetrate this unacceptable abuse online and offline, and publicly apologise for Angela Rayner's record of unparliamentary behaviour," she wrote to Sir Keir.

Ms Rayner, the party's deputy leader who represents Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, opened Wednesday's debate, which was about financial support for regions facing tighter coronavirus restrictions.

Later, Mr Clarkson - also a Greater Manchester MP - criticised the area's Labour mayor, Andy Burnham, and accused the opposition of "opportunism".

At this point, Ms Rayner was overheard saying "scum" from her seat on Labour's frontbench and was rebuked by the Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing.

Meanwhile, footballer Marcus Rashford, who has led a campaign calling on the government to provide free school meals over the holidays, tweeted to condemn the "unacceptable" abuse some MPs had received for voting against the motion in Parliament.

The political consensus of early this year has been blown apart in recent days.

Angela Rayner had to apologise earlier this week for saying "scum" while a Conservative MP criticised Labour in a debate over Covid.

There is increasing political disagreement over the government's handling of the crisis.

And the free meals issue has separately sparked a huge and heated debate, both in Parliament and on social media.

The government is adamant it is offering support in other ways. Some Tory MPs have spoken publicly about why they think free meals is the wrong approach and accused Labour of trying to politicise the issue.

Labour is going to continue to push this issue though - and believes it shows the government is out of touch.