By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline Published: 03:19 EDT, 5 September 2024 | Updated: 06:06 EDT, 5 September 2024

Angela Rayner today dismissed the furore over her Ibiza raving saying she is ‘working class’ and ‘likes a dance’.The Deputy PM raised eyebrows last week after she was filmed throwing shapes during a wild night out on the Spanish party island with actress Denise van Outen.The footage showed the minister dressed in red as she danced to a remix of Gotye’s hit song Somebody That I Used to Know at the Hi Ibiza club at around 4am on Thursday.But Ms Rayner voiced frustration as she was asked about the outing during a round of broadcast interviews this morning. Angela Rayner dismissed the furore over her Ibiza raving today saying she is ‘working class’ and ‘likes a dance’ The Deputy PM raised eyebrows last week after she was filmed throwing shapes during a wild night out on the Spanish party island with actress Denise van OutenShe told Sky News: ‘I was on holiday for a couple of days, I mean you can criticise my dancing, it is subjective, but…”I take my job really seriously and what I do… you’ve got to have downtime as well. Everybody has to have downtime.’Ms Rayner added: ‘Yes I’m working class, I like a dance, I like dance music.’I got criticised for going to the opera if you remember… I was a champagne socialist for going to the theatre.Asked whether it was harder for women to be in politics, she said: ‘I think we get judged very much.’Ms Rayner’s hedonistic break – which happened while Parliament was on its summer break – was defended by political opponents as well as allies. Michael Gove – who held the housing brief in the Tory government – referred to his own history of being pictured dancing in nightclubs. ‘It’s a tradition for Secretaries of State in the department,’ he joked on X. As Ms Rayner took questions the Commons earlier this week, Conservative MP Jesse Norman provoked laughter when he began a question by saying: ‘May I congratulate the Secretary of State on her recent appointment and on her dancing skills.’The Labour deputy leader could be seen smiling as someone shouted ‘hear hear’. Ms Rayner’s hedonistic break was defended by political opponents as well as allies. Michael Gove – who held the housing brief in the Tory government – referred to his own history of being pictured dancing in nightclubsDenise Van OutenAngela Rayner

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Angela Rayner dismisses furore over 4am Ibiza nightclub raving saying she ‘likes a dance’ and is allowed ‘downtime’