To think that Angela Rayner could be PM one day.

[Breathoffreshair82]

I just think she's a breath of fresh air. She's real and authentic, she's come from a poor upbringing. She was her mums carer age 9, was a teenager mum, worked in social care and worked her way up the ladder. I just find it amazing that she's achieved all of this from how her life started. If she was running for PM and the next general election I will definitely be voting for her.

Ha ha ha no! And I say this a a Tory supporter. She’s really really awful!

Absolutely not! I agree with everything that @LarryTheLurker said. I find watching her engage in debate excruciating because rather than delivering a reasoned, well thought out argument, she shouts and becomes aggressive like a petulant child. She claims to represent women in business but if I behaved like that at work, I’d be (quite rightly) at best, ignored and at worst, sacked!

No

@DottyDoge

“The woman is an embarrassment and I wish people would stop embarrassing actual high achieving working class women by giving her this label”

In what world is becoming Member of the Privy Council and Deputy Leader of the Opposition not an actual achievement?

In a world where you make your party unelectable (along with a few other unsavoury characters like Corbyn).

YANU - She’s a brainless big mouthed embarrassment!!!

In a world where you make your party unelectable (along with a few other unsavoury characters like Corbyn).

She is the Deputy Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition. That is an “actual achievement”

How about Rachel Reeves?

I think she'd need to be able to be calmer in debates and not get wound up. I say this as someone who has this fault. But I admire what she has achieved and no one should take that away from her.

I like her and I think we need more working class politicians
Coarse, aggressive, vulgar and ignorant, she is a divisive class warrior and a stain on the House of Commons
This is just misogynistic tripe. Women don't have to be quiet and demure. There have been plenty of male politicians who are WC and could be described as aggressive, and I bet you don't call them "a stain on the house of commons"

The whole point of the house of commons is to be representative, unfortunately most MPs we see are of a particular type (white, male, upper/middle upper class)

I'd have no problem with her as leader if Labour picked her. But I don't think they will. I think her and Starmer make a good team and complement each other (he is calm and steady but a bit uninspiring, she is passionate but a bit overwhelming)

How does she challenge the patriarchy when she panders to the likes of Lily Madigan and tries to shut down women's groups

Sounds like a good idea but then you remember she's part of the labor party

I can’t stand her.

While I'd love to see her as PM, I don't think the Labour Party would elect her as leader because the press would have a field day discrediting her, which would make it hard for her to win a GE.

And if they did elect her, the press would annihilate her. Look how vile they are about Abbot, Thornberry and other Labour women, especially those on the left.

At my age I don't care so much about what people think, but I would be mortified if the world saw us elect first BJ and then AR. I despair for our country's democracy if that's really the best we can do. We would, and should be, laughing stocks. Fortunately I don't think it will happen.

Before certain people accuse me of snobbery, I was bought up on a succession of council housing estates until I left home at 20. I actually think it's more snobby to think that working class people are represented by someone like her. Can't the working class be capable of intelligent, articulate and well reasoned debate or do they have to be bolshy, loud mouthed and devisive. How she came to be a working class poster girl I have no idea. She certainly doesn't represent me.

I'm also not twaw, so that's another reason to reject her.

But, my dear, she's so terribly common isn't she? Who would want someone like her representing our country when we can have a cuddly blond posho, complete with a collection of grasping mates, instead? How could she possibly represent us on the international political platform? She's not nearly as funny as Boris who is providing comedy material worldwide. And she doesn't smirk whilst lying her head off. No. Not remotely suitable to lead this nation of forelock tuggers.

Lisa Nandy for me. Angela R has had some good moments, but could never see her as PM.

She’s a vulgar rabble rouser

No diplomacy skills, class, tact or subtlety. Can you imagine her leading some complex cross cultural negotiations? 😂😂😂

There's a huge spectrum between "common oik" and "Eton posho" though.

I'm not THAT old and cam remember PMs like Major or Brown - neither from aristocratic or very moneyed backgrounds.

Major is a good example - left school at 16 with very few qualifications, but according to Wikipedia got an entry level position at a bank and worked his way up. The press had a field day with him being grey and dull but he was articulate and respected and is still kicking around now.

Rayner has similarly few academic qualifications but hasn't changed that at all. She has worked in entry level positions and has been a local Union rep and that's it.

The problem we have is that the people who would actually make great politicians and leaders would never do the job. Only a certain type of person would puts themselves forward for PM, and sadly, I don’t think they’re the ones who would be good for the country.

I could possibly get on board with Abbott. I think she can debate civilly and she listens which is possibly the most basic quality you can expect in someone representing you.

Although, while ever women who believe females should have access to female only spaces and intimate care are bigots, I will never vote for Labour.

Christ!

If the choice was Rayner or Johnson, I'd have to vote for Johnson.

There must be 100 other Labour MPs I'd put in front of Rayner.

Lisa Nandy who said male rapists should be in womens prisons with vulnerable women

@ a vulgar rabble rouser. But at least Jeremy Corbyn wasn't well like her. She is just simply awful.

What is this bizarre implication that keeps being bandied about on this thread, that anyone who wouldn’t want Rayner is therefore happy with Johnson? Even preferring him over her doesn’t mean thinking he’s OK.

I’ve been left wing all my life and I’d choose him over her simply because of the gender issue. She’d push through self-id and cause a vast amount of harm. I’m not under any illusion that Johnson is in favour of women’s rights either, and I think he’s an appalling amoral chancer, but politics is more complex than “working class shouty person or upper class buffoon?” It’s about policies and issues.

I do think personality matters but not just that. And on the basis of personality, understanding and political wits, she’s little better than him.

@Nanny0gg

You absolutely have to compete on the world stage and I really, really don't think she's capable of that.

I don't doubt she's a good constituency MP but you really do need an education and a good grasp of world affairs to be PM now.

Completely agree with this.

Yvette Cooper always seem alright, I don't know anything about her but she always interviews fairly well or is she not common enough