Gove defends fellow raver Rayner over Ibiza partying

The former Tory minister Michael Gove, known mostly as a Brexiteer but also more recently for his dance moves in a techno club, has defended Angela Rayner, who has been criticised for her own contortions at an Ibiza superclub.

- BARNEY DAVIS

Following a meeting with mayors and housing regulators on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary was filmed just hours later dancing with the Australian DJ Fisher in front of a vast crowd at the Hi Ibiza superclub.

Later, in footage posted to Instagram by actor and presenter Denise van Outen, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne could be seen singing along to a remix of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” with the DJ’s headphones around her neck, as a sea of smartphones held aloft in front of her captured the moment.

The moment was widely criticised in sections of the right-wing press with former Tory MP Nadine Dorries writing an article saying that Ms Rayner’s behaviour “demeans her office”.