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The B Team were back in the House of Commons today, assuming positions on behalf of their bosses for the first time since the election in July. And so we were treated to another deliciously ruthless role reversal — as Angela Rayner took her rightful place at the government despatch box with Oliver Dowden posited opposite.
Reports earlier this year suggested Dowden was one of the lead individuals lobbying Rishi Sunak to call an “early” election for the summer. Sunak duly obliged of course — and look where it has landed them both.
Indeed, those reports were the focus of Rayner’s questioning the last time she jousted with Dowden across the despatch box (albeit in reverse formation). Back in April, Rayner said she had “read with interest” that her opposite number “has been urging his neighbour in No 10 to call an election because he’s worried they might get wiped out [if they wait longer]”.
“Has he finally realised”, Rayner blasted excitedly, “that when he stabbed Boris Johnson in the back to get his mate into Number 10, he was ditching their biggest election winner for a pint-sized loser?”
Well, if Dowden hadn’t come to terms with the Conservatives’ grim electoral trajectory at that point, perhaps he did today as he gripped the opposition despatch box and the hollow cheers of his much-diminished, 121 MP-strong party rang out.
In any case, Rayner’s schadenfreude was palpable this afternoon. After welcoming Dowden to his “new place” on the opposition frontbench (a courtesy that is typically offered in the other direction), Rayner referenced her predecessor’s private calls for a summer election.
“Today’s our first exchange since he pushed for a July general election”, the deputy prime minister began. “And if his own side hasn’t offered him a peerage, I certainly would!”. Already, as she savaged Dowden’s role in the Tory defeat with a smile, Rayner seemed to be enjoying PMQs far more than her boss in recent weeks.
The comments came in response to Dowden’s first inquiry. He wanted to know what the government’s definition of “working people” is — and therefore who, according to Labour’s manifesto, is exempt from any budget tax rises.
Rayner, in truth, could have approached this question in several ways; Dowden could have hardly challenged his predecessor less. “The definition of working people”, the deputy PM ultimately responded, “are the people that the Tory party have failed for the last 14 years.”
Of course, the point Dowden had tried to make was that Labour’s rumoured employer national insurance increase will affect small businesses — and he attempted to clarify the situation with his next question. “I will give her another go”, Dowden began, “There are five million small business owners in this country. Are they working people?”
But Rayner again responded assuredly. “I don’t know how the shadow deputy prime minister can stand there with a straight face when it was the small businesses, the working people of this country, that paid the price of them crashing the economy”, she insisted.
Rayner’s explosive emphasis on “shadow” was one further indication of just how much she was enjoying fielding Dowden’s questions.
And so Dowden tried one last time to seize some political ground ahead of the budget. “Does she agree with this: ‘Working people will pay when employers pass on the hike in National Insurance?’. These are her words. Does she at least agree with herself?”. It was, by some distance, Dowden’s most effective effort.
But Rayner, still, responded on her own terms. She insisted the new Employment Rights Bill will raise the living standards of 10 million workers and asked if Dowden will apologise for the Conservatives’ own tax “hikes” and the “disaster” they left behind.
The deputy leader of the opposition chose not to apologise. Instead, in a screeching change of tack, Dowden highlighted that the session would be his last exchange with Rayner across the despatch box. On a lighter note then, he asked if Rayner would join him in paying tribute to the King ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa.
Rayner joined her predecessor in paying tribute to King Charles III. But not before she reflected on just how much she will “miss” her and Dowden’s commons exchanges — “the battle of the gingers”. In chorus, MPs from across the House let out a knowing “Awww”.
For his final question, Dowden asked whether Rayner could ensure that the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa will deepen economic ties with Britain’s allies. “Our Commonwealth family is brought together by historical and cultural ties. Indeed, much like the pair of us”, Dowden said.
Rayner responded from the government frontbench by making a heart sign with her hands.
But the deputy PM was also sure not to let the session end on purely sentimental terms. After stressing that the Commonwealth is “very important”, she suggested that Dowden — “the architect of the 2024 Tory general election campaign” — had been at the despatch box “doing his victory lap before retiring with the hereditary peers that he fought so hard to protect”. (In recent days, there have been rumours that Dowden will stand down as an MP once the Conservative leadership contest is concluded.)
Rayner added: “He leaves behind the Tory party in utter denial, heads in the sand, refusing to accept the rejection by the British public”.
Starmer, one supposes, could learn a thing or two from Rayner’s performance at prime minister’s questions today. The despatch box display was probably the most assured since the general election.
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
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