COLUMN by South Cotswolds MP Dr Roz Savage: Angela Rayner's Departure - Lessons on Standards and Representation
Angela Rayner's resignation is a reminder that those of us in public life must be held to the very highest standards.
As Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, she had a particular duty to ensure her own housing arrangements were beyond reproach.
That much is clear.
But what has troubled me is the relish with which some segments of the press have rushed to vilify her.
Far be it from me to defend a government minister who has conceded that they were at fault and resigned accordingly, but too much of the commentary has carried more than a whiff of misogyny and class prejudice.
Criticism must be fair and proportionate - not a pile-on shaped by bias.
Politically, I hope Keir Starmer will use this moment to steady the course of his faltering government and focus on delivering the change our country so urgently needs.
Personally, I will miss Angela on the front bench.
She brought a spark to Prime Minister's Questions - a sharp wit and a fearless energy - that was a refreshing change from the lumbering exchanges between Starmer and Badenoch, which too often resemble two boxers past their prime, circling each other without ever landing a punch.
Angela's life story is extraordinary.
A mum at 16, growing up on a council estate, she worked her way up to one of the highest offices in the land.
That matters.
We need people in Parliament who carry the lived experience of our communities, so voters see MPs who truly understand their struggles and fight for their interests.
As the daughter of a Methodist minister, I grew up in a world that doesn't fit neatly into the class system.
Clergy families are often said to have middle-class aspirations and working-class incomes, and that rang true in my childhood.
My father's job brought me into regular contact with people all across society.
Our home address was on the noticeboard outside the church, so people from every walk of life would come to the manse seeking help - sometimes even people with no home of their own.
From a young age, I learned to meet people where they were, to listen without judgement, and to take them as I found them.
That experience has shaped how I try to serve as an MP today - representing the whole community, no matter what their background may be.
My hope is that Angela's departure doesn't put off young people from working-class backgrounds who might be thinking of going into politics.
We need them.
Our democracy is healthier, more vibrant, and more just when it draws on the talents and perspectives of the whole country - not just the privileged few.