Angela Rayner has resigned from Government following an investigation into her tax affairs by Sir Keir Starmer's independent standards adviser. The Deputy Prime Minister stepped down from all her roles on Friday after Sir Laurie Magnus concluded she had breached the ministerial code.
Magnus said Rayner had "acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service" but found she had failed to meet required standards. The investigation centred on stamp duty underpayment on an £800,000 seaside flat she purchased in Hove earlier this year.
Rayner told the Prime Minister in her resignation letter that she "deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice" and took "full responsibility for this error". She resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party (Labour).
Stamp duty underpayment details
Rayner had faced mounting pressure to stand down over recent days after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on the property. She paid £40,000 less of the surcharge than required by claiming it was her main home rather than a second home.
Magnus said in his letter to the Prime Minister that Rayner "believed that she relied on the legal advice she had received, but unfortunately did not heed the caution contained within it". The legal advice had acknowledged it did not constitute expert tax advice and suggested expert advice be sought.
He added: "The responsibility of any taxpayer for reporting their tax returns and settling their liabilities rests ultimately with themselves." Magnus acknowledged the "acute challenges ministers face in managing the demands of their personal lives and their public responsibilities".
Full acceptance of responsibility
In her resignation letter, Rayner said she had "long believed that people who serve the British public in government must always observe the highest standards". She accepted that while Magnus concluded she "acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout", she had not met the highest standards regarding her property purchase.
Rayner emphasised: "It was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount." The resignation brings to an end mounting political pressure over the tax affairs that had dominated recent days.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
