Angela Rayner exposed as Labour chief claims £1.4k taxpayer cash for letter-folding device

MPs are able to claim money from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), to pay for staff and fund their private offices. On March 17 Ms Rayner made the claim for the letter folding machine, according to figures first uncovered by The Spectator.

Under IPSA guidelines non-London area MPs are currently entitled to an annual office budget of £27,470.

Speaking to The Spectator a spokesperson for Ms Rayner said: “All expenses claims for the running of Angela’s parliamentary office were declared in line with IPSA rules.”

This week, Labour’s deputy leader has been fervently criticising the Government over its attitude to fighting racism in football.

During the Euro 2020 tournament, England players chose to “take the knee” before each match, a gesture associated with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

In June Home Secretary Priti Patel described this as “gesture politics”, and said if fans want to boo in response “that’s a choice for them, quite frankly”.

She has since hit out at the “vile racist abuse” that some of England’s black players were subject to, after losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties.

Speaking to Channel 4 News Ms Rayner accused Ms Patel of having blown “the dog whistle”.

She said: “Well what I want to say from the outset is the majority of Britons were incredibly proud of all of our players, and to get to the finals was such a tremendous achievement and I think the few in our country that spew out this racist bile are absolutely disgusting.

READ MORE: Sturgeon’s independence plans could leave Scotland swamped in ‘double taxation’ crisis

“And what really infuriates me is that Priti Patel is the Home Secretary, who’s in charge of our police, allowed this to happen by condoning the booing of players who were bending the knee to show they were for diversity, and the prime minister refused to condemn it.

“So when you blow the dog whistle, then you’re to blame for the dogs that are barking.”

Labour’s deputy leader also called for Boris Johnson to apologise for past “racist comments”.

She asserted: “He’s said some very racist things in the past.

DON’T MISS 

Boris fires back: No10 lets rip at SNP and Labour after joint assault [SHOCK]
Ann Widdecombe blasts Labour Party over austerity [REVEAL]
Corbyn’s call for action against racism has MP ‘utterly astonished’ [INSIGHT]

“He’s called Muslim women ‘letterboxes’, he said ‘watermelon smiles’, he’s been an architect of fanning the flames of racism in the past and he hasn’t done enough this time to call it out.

“The Prime Minister has said racist comments in the past, he should apologise for them.”

Mr Johnson condemned the “appalling abuse” some England players were targeted with, after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Ms Rayner has been talked about by some within Labour as a future leader of the party.

Ahead of the Batley and Spen by-election, on July 1, one of Sir Keir Starmer’s allies told The Times his deputy was “on manoeuvres”.

Asked about a possible leadership challenge an ally of Ms Rayner said: “There’s definitely been people sounding out the possibility – it’s clear she’d easily reach 40 nominations – and urging her to run if the worst happens in Batley.”

Speaking to The Times, one hard-left Labour MP said: “Angela’s people are speaking to a number of comrades.

“Sections of the party would back her without doubt.”

In the event Labour narrowly won the Batley and Spen by-election, reducing pressure on the Labour leader.

Express.co.uk has approached Ms Rayner for comment, over the letter folding and inserting machine spending.