Jubilant Tory activists have chanted “scum! Scum! Scum!” after Sajid Javid referred to them all by the s-word at the party conference.
The Health Secretary hit back at Angela Rayner for calling the Cabinet “scum” at a late-night fringe - and took on the mantle for himself.
Buoyed by a rowdy group of fans who shouted he’d be “Prime Minister”, the Cabinet minister told a fringe event in Manchester on Sunday night: “It’s nice to be with so many friends in person - or Tory scum as Angela Rayner [put it].”
The men in the corner chanted: “Scum! Scum! Scum!”.
He added: “When she was challenged about that statement she said actually up north that’s a term of endearment.
“I tell you, I was born in Rochdale not too far from here, just a few miles away - and I suddenly don’t remember that kind of language.”
Mr Javid also joked about the fact the fringe, led by Tory group Bright Blue, was sponsored by drinks giant Budweiser.
A representative of the firm openly lobbied Mr Javid to consider “speaking with your colleagues at the Treasury to consider the way that low-alcohol beer is taxed the UK”, in a speech just before he spoke at the Midland Hotel.
Mr Javid admitted: “One of my advisers said ‘you’re the Health Secretary. Should you really be going to an event that’s sponsored by an alcohol company?’”
But he concluded: “I don’t think anyone here needs any encouragement. Besides, it could have been Corona, so…”
