Angela Rayner: David Lammy defends Deputy Leader 'scum' comments at Labour Conference

David Lammy has defended his Labour Party colleague and deputy leader Angela Rayner, who recently described the Conservative government as "scum."

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, the Shadow Justice Secretary has attacked the reported outrage over Angela Rayner's comments at an event on Monday evening.

He said he was not keen to take lectures from Conservatives, who he stated had a leader who "described people like me as being "piccaninnies with watermelon smiles."

Speaking to the Guardian newspaper he admitted being known for himself having made "fruity remarks over the years", but said the Conservative Party needed to get their own house in order first, expressing concern that it was "slightly absurd that people are rushing to focus on a form of words, when there is some serious substance to talk about.”

Mr Lammy also attacked the government for failing to support the judiciary after Home Secretary Priti Patel was accused of criticising the activities of activist lawyers.

He added that Labour would act to repair the legal aid system, which he stated had been hit by significant government cuts in recent years