Angela reigns

Labour Deputy Leader clashes with Tory in explosive TV debate

- JOHN STEVENS, LIZZY BUCHAN and DAVE BURKE

LABOUR'S Angela Rayner last night slapped down Tory Penny Mordaunt over the Tories' discredited tax claims in a fiery TV clash.

The Shadow Deputy Leader warned the Conservatives have "left us in a real mess" as she confronted the Cabinet minister about the state of the country.

The pair traded blows over the armed forces, the economy and NHS in the BBC debate.

After Ms Mordaunt suggested Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin would not believe Britain under Labour would use its nuclear deterrent, Ms Rayner raged: "You can tell as many lies as you want." Repeatedly jabbing her finger at her Labour opponent, the Tory minister said: "Without credibility, we become a target. If we become a target, you are less safe.

"It's too late for this generation of Labour politicians, their credibility is shot." But Ms Rayner interrupted: "You can keep pointing at me but you are the party that has cut the armed forces, crashed the economy and left us in a real mess. Keir has been absolutely clear on that, I am absolutely clear. We will keep our nuclear deterrent and we will invest in it.