Full exchange: Angela Rayner and Oliver Dowden clash in a ’battle of gingers’ at PMQs

Angela Rayner sidestepped questions over the prospect of Budget tax rises hitting working people, as she took part in a “battle of the gingers” at Prime Minister’s Questions. The Deputy Prime Minister faced her Conservative counterpart Sir Oliver Dowden, with the two taking centre stage at PMQs because of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Samoa. In recognition of their final despatch box exchanges, Ms Rayner joked: “I will miss our exchanges, the battle of the gingers, the late nights voting.” Shadow deputy prime minister Sir Oliver earlier asked Ms Rayner to define “working people” after Labour’s election manifesto said the party would not increase taxes on them and included a commitment not to increase national insurance, income tax or VAT. Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independent