Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, has acknowledged that she underpaid stamp duty when purchasing her flat in Hove, valued at eight hundred thousand pounds. She attributed this ‘mistake’ to initial legal advice that failed to consider her family home’s arrangements in Greater Manchester. Rayner insists she did not intend to evade the tax and has contacted Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to address her tax obligations.

Support from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer came during Prime Minister’s Questions, where he expressed pride in standing alongside Rayner. Conversely, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Rayner’s resignation, describing her position as untenable. The criticism highlights the political implications of her underpayment, particularly as she has been seen as a key ally for the left of the Labour Party and its union supporters.

Rayner, who previously maintained she had paid the relevant duty on the property, later received further legal advice revealing that she should have paid a higher rate of stamp duty. She stated her commitment to resolving the issue and ensuring transparency in public service. The controversy comes amid scrutiny of Labour’s tax policy, especially following their decision to increase higher stamp duty rates in the previous year’s Budget.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the importance of her family’s welfare, particularly for her son, who has lifelong disabilities. She disclosed the existence of a trust aimed at securing her son’s living situation, which had previously not been disclosed due to a court order. Rayner has referred herself for investigation by the Prime Minister’s standards adviser following this admission of extra tax liability.