Angela Rayner Quits Cabinet After Probe Into Stamp Duty Row

Angela Rayner with Keir Starmer earlier this year.Angela Rayner has quit the government following an investigation into her tax affairs found that she had broken the ministerial code.The deputy prime minister and housing secretary handed in her resignation to Keir Starmer after his adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, published his findings.She has also resigned as Labour’s deputy leader, triggering what could be a bitter election contest.Sir Laurie’s probe was sparked after Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted she had not paid enough stamp duty when she bought a flat near Brighton in May.Rayner’s living arrangements have been in the spotlight since it was reported last month that she had bought the £800,000 property in Hove.She designated it as her primary residence, meaning she paid around £40,000 less in stamp duty than if it had been her second home.However, a barrister who Rayner asked to examine the purchase had found that she should have paid the higher rate as the constituency home where her children live is still her main residence for tax purposes.In his report to the PM, Sir Laurie said Rayner had twice been given written assurances that she only had to pay the lower rate of stamp duty.However, she was also advised to seek “specific tax advice” and had failed to do so.He said “her unfortunate failure to settle her [stamp duty] liability at the correct level, coupled with the fact that this was established only following intensive public scrutiny, leads me to advise you that, in relation to this matter, she cannot be considered to have met the ‘highest possible standards of proper conduct’ as envisaged by the [ministerial] code.“Accordingly, it is with deep regret that I must advise you that in thesecircumstances, I consider the code to have been breached.In her resignation letter to the PM, Rayner said: “I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice given both my position as Housing Secretary and my complex family arrangements.“I take full responsibility for this error. I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount.“I must also consider the significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking on my family. While I rightly expect proper scrutiny on me and my life, my family did not choose to have their private lives interrogated and exposed so publicly.“I have been clear throughout this process that my priority has, and always will be, protecting my children and the strain I am putting them under through staying in post has become unbearable.“Given the findings, and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”In his handwritten reply, Starmer said he was “very sad” that her time in government had ended “in this way”.“You have given your all to making the Labour government a success and you have been a central part of our plan to make Britain fairer for working families,” he said.Starmer added: “On a personal note, I am very sad to be losing you from the government. You have been a trusted colleague and a true friend for many years.“I have nothing but admiration for you and huge respect for your achievements in politics.”Rayner’s departure from government is a major blow for Starmer, who carried out a shake-up of his No.10 operation on Monday in an attempt to regain the political initiative.It is also likely to cast a shadow over the Labour’ Party conference in Liverpool later this month, where Rayner was due to give one of the main speeches.Related...Keir Starmer Condemns 'Appalling' Attack On Angela Rayner's HomeWhy Angela Rayner's Political Survival Now Rests In The Hands Of 1 ManAngela Rayner Has Admitted She Didn't Pay Enough Tax. Here's Why This Is Such A Big Deal

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