Angela Rayner expertly responds to suggestion she shouldn't be education secretary because she left school at 16

Angela Rayner expertly hit back at the suggestion she shouldn't be education secretary because she left school at 16.

Responding to a tweet comparing her to Tory candidate Gavin Williamson, she said that the Tories "cannot help themselves".

​Emily Hewertson's tweet is part of a thread criticising members of the Shadow Cabinet. She also says that shadow chancellor John McDonnell has "no proper experience in the finance sector".

Angela Rayner left school at sixteen but returned to education, qualifying as a social care worker and learning British Sign Language at Stockport College. She then went on to become an official at trade union Unison and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.

She was defended by Owen Jones, who pointed out their Stockport connection.

Others also jumped to her defence.

Hewertson doubled down on her comments in response to the backlash, saying

I think a Secretary of State for Education should be someone who has experienced all elements of the UK education system.

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