Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner became embroiled in a heated clash over defence as the Labour deputy leader claimed: “I won’t take lectures from you”.
The candidates were taking part in a BBC live election debate on Friday (7 June), when the subject of the UK’s defence came up.
Conservative candidate Ms Mordaunt accused Rayer of voting to end the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
She said: “If you are doubting that they would use that force, imagine what Putin is thinking. Without credibility, we become a target. If we become a target we are less safe.”
Ms Rayner hit back and told Ms Mordaunt: “You can tell as many lies as you want.”
“My brother served in Iraq and I won’t be lectured by you.”