Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was spotted partying in an Ibiza DJ booth with Denise van Outen, just a day after Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a somber warning about “painful” times ahead for the nation.
Rayner’s presence at the event, which was a stark contrast to Starmer’s recent warnings of economic and social difficulties, has drawn attention and sparked debate.
Angela Rayner was filmed by Denise van Outen enjoying a lively night out in Ibiza at around 4am on Thursday. In the footage, Rayner, dressed in a red dress, can be seen dancing energetically to a remix of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” This outing comes just a day after Rayner’s political colleague, Keir Starmer, issued a stark warning about challenging times ahead for the nation.
This marked a striking contrast from earlier in the day. A photo shared on Ms. Rayner’s X account at 6:50 PM on Wednesday shows her in East London, where she was engaged in discussions with officials concerning unsafe cladding, dressed in red but in a different outfit.
Subsequently, the 44-year-old appears to have swiftly traveled to Ibiza to attend a high-energy event at Hi Ibiza. The venue charges 100 euros (£84) for entry, 95 euros (£80) for a drinks package of five beverages, and 11 euros (£9) for bottled water.
The video footage reveals Ms. Rayner exuberantly embracing DJ FISHER, clearly undeterred by the somber tone of Keir Starmer’s recent speech, which had forecasted ‘painful’ times ahead.
Ms. Rayner appears to have traveled to Ibiza following a meeting on Wednesday with mayors, regulators, and fire chiefs concerning unsafe cladding. The footage of her dancing in the DJ booth indicates that the time was past 4 AM on Thursday morning.
Hi Ibiza, described as ‘the most technologically advanced club on the planet’ with ‘cutting-edge DJs and pioneering immersive experiences,’ hosts DJ FISHER every Wednesday night as part of a regular residency. FISHER, whose real name is Paul Nicholas Fisher, hails from the Gold Coast in Australia and transitioned from an aspiring professional surfer to a music career.
In the video, Ms. Rayner is seen enthusiastically engaging with FISHER’s Gotye remix, showcasing her evident enjoyment of the event. A known party enthusiast, the Deputy MP has previously shared her experiences of extended ‘rave’ sessions fueled by vodka.
During a 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival event, Ms. Rayner recounted a recent holiday in Spain, where she partied from mid-afternoon until sunrise. She described feeling proud of her stamina, saying, “I was like, ‘Yes, I can do it’.” She noted that her party habits are supported solely by vodka, emphasizing the importance of being ‘in the moment.’
Ms. Rayner has also spoken about her penchant for heavy drinking at home, where she hosts gatherings featuring a cocktail she calls Venom, made from vodka, Southern Comfort, Blue WKD, and orange juice. She described a past incident where a guest was so affected by the cocktail that they needed to be taken home by their spouse.
Recalling a recent supermarket visit, Ms. Rayner expressed some embarrassment, noting, “I was ashamed the other day because I got three bottles of wine and eight packs of Juul2 vapes and that was it, that’s all I had in my basket. I did actually think, ‘I need to put some fruit in there.'”
She revealed that her children have nicknamed her “The Vape Dragon” due to her difficulty in giving up vaping. She admitted, “Vaping is probably really bad for you and I will find out one day, but yeah, I enjoy a good vape.”
Comparing herself to Sir Keir Starmer, Ms. Rayner described her own approach as “more bombastic and in your face,” while characterizing him as “the ultimate civil servant/public servant” who adopts a more strategic stance.
Over the summer, Ms. Rayner has focused on Labour’s overhaul of planning regulations and spearheaded controversial workers’ rights reforms.
On Thursday, she shared an Instagram post featuring the footage of her dancing at Hi Ibiza, captioned: “@pikesibiza @hiibizaofficial @followthefishtv (Including a surprise booth rave up with Angela Rayner) @tshamusic.”
This upbeat demeanor stands in stark contrast to the more somber tone of her boss, Sir Keir Starmer. On Wednesday, Starmer delivered a speech from the Downing Street Rose Garden, forecasting a ‘painful’ Budget in October. He indicated that the upcoming financial statement, the first by Labour in 14 years, would involve “short-term pain.”
Starmer attributed the challenging financial situation to the previous Conservative administration, asserting that it left the economy in a worse state than anticipated. He also defended the decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Allowance to benefit recipients, describing it as a “difficult trade-off” that would ultimately benefit everyone, including pensioners, in the long term.
