Composer defends Rayner after Tories mock her opera trip

Mozart would have loved to see Angela Rayner at Glyndebourne, a leading composer has said, after Dominic Raab mocked the deputy Labour leader for going to the opera.

Raab, the deputy prime minister, drew laughs from Tory MPs at prime minister’s questions when he made a joke about Rayner’s trip to the classical music festival in East Sussex. At one point he also appeared to wink at her.

Rayner, who has spoken about her tough upbringing after leaving school at 16, was pictured last week enjoying a glass of champagne at a performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

The moment Dominic Raab appeared to wink at Angela Rayner during prime minister’s questions

HOUSE OF COMMONS/PA

To jeers from the Conservative backbenches, Raab contrasted Rayner’s trip to the opera to the industrial action being taken by striking railworkers.

“She talks about