As the Labour Party Conference got underway this weekend, a moment from deputy leader Angela Rayner’s Channel 4 interview went viral after she was hilariously interrupted by a phone call from an extremely important person on the other end: her mum.
Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool began on Sunday, 7 October, following a week where headlines were dominated by the Conservatives once again posting up at the Midland Hotel, announcing the scrapping of HS2 to Manchester and Sacha Lord posting huge adverts about Rishi Sunak in the city.
We think it’s safe to say their arrival in 0161 wasn’t met the warmest of welcome with protests just outside, various ministers being grilled for lies and inaccuracies during their respective speeches, as well as reportedly being thrown out of a bar in the Gay Village following an incident with a drag act.
In contrast, this behind-the-scenes moment from Angela Rayner and her mother, Lynn Bowen, has tickled countless people online in what is being described as not only a simply heart-warming and “relatable” moment but also one of the most stereotypically Northern exchanges you could imagine.
Angela Rayner answers a call from her mum mid-interview.
As the Stockport-born MP for Ashton-under-Lyne goes on to explain, her mum never typically chooses to ring her so the 43-year-old’s first thought was that “something must be really up with her”.
Wearing an expression that anyone would recognise if their mum has ever called for a natter at the most inconvenient time possible (that’s just what they do sometimes), the people behind the camera begin to chuckle as her mum still stays on the phone after an obvious hint to end the call from her daughter.
The face she pulls went her mum still doesn’t hang up and just says, “You’re alright, I was just congratulating you, you did well” is absolute gold; that classic mix of exasperation whilst still having to be polite because they literally gave birth to you.
The whole thing only gets funnier when she says that her mum isn’t usually up at this time but is “going to Llandudno today” — again, the kind of throwaway comment that you expect to be thrown into conversation after popping into your nan’s for a brew.
Rayner began caring for her mum and siblings at a young age following bouts of depression. (Credit: ITV News)
While there are some people online suggesting that the clip might be staged in an attempt for some good PR spin, mainly due to the fact she decides to put it on speakerphone, the majority are labelling it a “relatable”, “genuine” “down-to-earth” and “working class” moment.
One person commented, “I think Angela Rayner is awesome. She cares enough about her mother to answer. In the middle of an interview. Because her mum’s important. Love it.”, while another added, “A real person as a politician. Refreshing in the UK but it shouldn’t be”. Several simply said, “Rayner for PM”.
One thing’s for sure, we’ll never get tired of hearing a Manc accent on a politician. Rayner received similar praise for her speech at the Labour conference, which was filled with quips at the Tory party’s expense and focus on restoring fair wages, proper social housing and making misogyny “a hate crime”.
Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy
Danny Jones
English punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from an upcoming music festival in Manchester following the recent controversy surrounding their set at Glastonbury 2025.
The media storm surrounding their much-talked-about and heavily televised Glasto appearance has seen them reportedly dropped by their agency and their US Visas cancelled, along with multiple concerts – one of those being right here in Greater Manchester.
Bob Vylan were scheduled to play RADAR Fest at Victoria Warehouse in Stretford this weekend, but now the organisers have informed gig-goers that the artists will not be performing in their planned slot on Saturday.
The alternative music event did provide any additional details, posting nothing but this image:
For anyone unaware, Vylan were heavily criticised for the pro-Palestine chants, which Glastonbury itself has deemed as having “crossed a line”, labelling the chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as antisemitic.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation.
In addition to RADAR, Vylan were also due to appear at Kave Fest in France the following Sunday, 6 July, but the music event has also decided not to host them.
The BBC also opted not to broadcast Northern Irish band Kneecap as part of their coverage this year, as the Belfast rap trio have also been outspoken on the issue, among many other musicians of late.
Responding to the decision on social media not long after the news broke, the act simply shared the post on their Instagram story along with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester, we will be back.”
Trafford Centre launches school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families
Emily Sergeant
A school uniform drive has been launched at the Trafford Centre to support local families ahead of the new school year.
With schools across Greater Manchester soon set to be out for the summer holidays, many parents, guardians, and carers in the region may be looking ahead to the new school year in September, concerned about how they may be able to provide their children with the necessary uniform items needed.
According to a 2020 survey by The Children’s Society, 23% of parents reported that the cost of school uniforms led to their children wearing ‘ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect’ items.
It’s these statistic that highlight the ongoing pressure faced by families.
This is why the Trafford Centre has partnered with both Manchester South Central Foodbank and local charity, Bridging the Gap, to launch a school uniform donation drive aimed at supporting more than 700 children across Manchester this summer.
The Trafford Centre launches a school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families / Credit: Trafford Centre
From now up until the 15 August, anyone heading to the region’s largest shopping centre is encouraged to donate new or pre-loved school uniforms.
“The cost of living crisis has deeply impacted our community, with more and more families unable to afford the essentials,” commented Emily Jeremy, who is the Assistant Project Manager at Manchester South Central Foodbank.
“As an anti-poverty charity, we recognised the need for school uniform support years ago. Though costs vary between schools, a full set of branded secondary school uniform can total around £150, which is a significant burden for many households.”
All items can be donated at the shopping centre’s Guest Services point / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography | Trafford Centre (Supplied)
Simon Layton, Centre Director at the Trafford Centre, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside Bridging the Gap and Manchester South Central Foodbank to support local families during these challenging times.
“School uniforms shouldn’t be a barrier to education, and we hope this initiative will ease some of the pressure many parents face as the new school year approaches.”
The school uniform donation drive is running up until 15 August.
All items can be taken to the Trafford Centre’s Guest Services Lounge, which is located on Lower Regent Crescent next to M&S, and they must be clean and free from stains or damage.
Danny Jones -
9th October 2023 
