Rayner the raver: deputy PM spotted behind decks at Ibiza club

Political figures of various affiliations have been vying for the "rebel" image all season, but only one has nearly perfected the part.

Angela Rayner was seen enthusiastically dancing on stage at a popular Ibiza club last Thursday, singing along to a remix of Gotye's popular song 'Somebody That I Used to Know' as the excited crowd cheered her on.

She was having a great time at Hi Ibiza, a club that can hold 5,000 people on the Spanish island known for its party scene. She was there with Australian DJ Fisher, who even shared his headphones with the deputy prime minister. The video was uploaded on social media by TV host Denise van Outen around 4 in the morning on Thursday.

Many hours ago, at 6:50pm on Wednesday, Rayner shared on X that she had spoken with mayors and housing regulators earlier in the day to talk about how to quickly remove hazardous cladding from many residential buildings. This discussion was prompted by a large fire at an apartment building in Dagenham, east London, on Monday.

Rayner is expected to return to parliament on Monday when the summer break ends. The exact time of her arrival in the UK is still uncertain.

Rayner has been seen partying before. Back in 2022, she participated in a DJ competition for charity in Manchester. She competed against Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Steve Rotheram, the mayor of Liverpool city region. Rayner's song choice was the rave classic "Set You Free" by N-Trance.

The dancefloor at clubs is a place where people from different political parties enjoy themselves. In 2021, there was a video of Michael Gove dancing energetically at a nightclub in Aberdeen. He allegedly tried to get in without paying the £5 entrance fee by saying he was the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.

Video of the ex-MP dancing at Bohemia nightclub spread online. His hands moved wildly and sometimes danced in rhythm to the music, as seen in the video taken by another club-goer. Gove's friends stated that he did not try to skip paying the entrance fee.

Even politicians have been caught enjoying a night out, showing that they are not exempt from socializing. However, those hoping to stay hidden from the paparazzi in the smoky outdoor areas may not have much success. Rayner's spirited escape occurred just as Keir Starmer indicated approval for proposals to limit smoking in outdoor areas of pubs and restaurants, including designated zones on the premises and public sidewalks.

If it happens, Starmer might not be able to join the prestigious and exclusive "brat" club, where US Democrat Kamala Harris is also a member. Charli xcx, who created the popular lime green summer trend, believes a real brat typically carries a pack of cigarettes and a Bic lighter.