Angela Rayner and Penny Mordaunt share laugh minutes after fiery clash

Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner were all smiles minutes after a heated exchange over taxes at Friday’s election debate. The pair clashed repeatedly during the 90-minute discussion, broadcast by the BBC, with the Tory Commons leader appearing to focus her attacks on Labour’s deputy leader rather than the rest of the seven party representatives. After a shouting match over Ms Mordaunt’s claim that Labour would raise taxes by £2,000 - which Ms Rayner described as a “lie“ - the pair shared a friendly handshake and a smile as the debate went off the air. Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: Find us on social: TikTok / @independent Instagram / X (Twitter) / https://