Why Is Everyone Suddenly So Concerned About Angela Rayner's 'Primary Residence'?

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is facing some backlash over her Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is currently facing intense scrutiny after being accusing of supposedly dodging tax on her third property.The outrage against her began when it emerged she had purchased a third property.Her critics accused the housing secretary of hypocrisy for having multiple homes in the housing crisis. They also criticised her purchase considering she is preparing to hike council tax on second properties.But the row escalated on Friday after The Telegraph reported that she had saved a significant sum in stamp duty when buying this third residence.Here’s what you need to know.What’s happened?The deputy prime minister recently paid more than £700,000 for a seafront property near Brighton, according to reports last week.That fact alone outraged many of her political rivals, considering she already has her property in her constituency Ashton-under-Lyne, and the grace-and-favour residence in Westminster, Admirality House, which she has access to in her role as deputy prime minister.The Tories’ shadow housing secretary James Cleverly said: “Angela Rayner is responsible for housing policy, yet she won’t even be straight about her own.”He said this matters because “this is the same deputy prime minister who has hiked taxes on family homes across the country”.Cleverly noted: “If she’s not prepared to be open about her own affairs while taxing everyone else heavily, the public will wonder what she has to hide.”The opposition also tried to get the phrase “three pads Ange” going.The story then took a turn when it emerged she may have paid less tax than expected when buying that third property.The Telegraph reported that Rayner remove her name from the deed of her Greater Manchester house a few weeks before buying her new flat.That meant she may have avoided the £70,000 stamp duty bill she would have paid if the new Hove home was her second home.By listing it as her primary residence, it’s thought she was able to pay £30,000 in stamp duty instead.There’s no suggestion Rayner has done anything illegal – but her critics think she is trying to cheat her own system.What has the backlash been?The Tories referred Rayner to the PM’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests, claiming her behaviour was “unethical”.They claimed this was “hypocritical tax avoidance by a minister who supports higher taxes on family homes, high-value homes and second homes”.Sir Laurie Magnus will decide whether to go ahead with an ethics investigation in the coming days.Labour’s Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South, also became the first person from within the party to publicly criticise Rayner over the move, saying the “optics” did not look good.Speaking to Times Radio, the Labour MP said: “I’ve no idea if she’s broken any rules. I think it is always better for ministers to be transparent and to explain their financial dealings.”He added that it looked like Rayner was “manipulating the tax system” for her own means, adding: “We all have a right to adjust our financial affairs in our own interest.“But the optics of it, just before the chancellor is going to do a Budget, doesn’t look good.”There are also concerns that she is will be seen as less committed to her constituency if her name is not on her Ashton-under-Lyne property.MPs are expected to show commitment to their own constituencies by spending a significant amount of time there.The Tories also claimed she has broken electoral law by trying to avoid paying council tax on her London property.At the moment, she does not pay that because it is designated as a second home, with the Greater Manchester property being the primary one.But the Conservatives want to get her removed from the electoral roll in Ashton-under-Lyne, claiming she does not meet the “legal tests for living there” now – which would make her liable for council tax on her London home.What has Rayner said?Rayner has not spoken out about the case herself, but has posted on social media emphasising how her department is focused on building more homes to fix the housing crisis.But sources close to her say that she stopped owning a stake in the Ashton-under-Lyne property after her divorce – which happened long before she purchase the Hove flat.It’s worth noting that her Westminster residence has been used by a number of deputy prime ministers before her, and keeping a taxpayer-funded home in the capital is convention for MPs who have constituencies outside of London.How has the government responded?The government is standing by the deputy prime minister.Fellow cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson told Times Radio on Sunday that it was solely up to Rayner if she wanted to purchase another property.She said: “If an individual wants to buy a property, whether that individual is Angela Rayner or anybody else, they are entirely within their rights to spend their money as they choose.“And, you know, I’ve never gone in for that way of approaching things that somehow, you know, people shouldn’t have that kind of choice.“My politics is actually about people having more choices over what they do with their own money in their own lives.“And Angela Rayner, as an adult with a salary, is able to make choices about how she spends her own money.”And on BBC Breakfast, Phillipson said it was clear Rayner had followed all of the rules required.When asked why Labour will not order an investigation in case she has done anything wrong, she replied: “These do relate, as you’ll appreciate, to family matters and her own living arrangements.”She added: “As a parent, she is entitled to some privacy too.”Related...Fixing UK Housing Must Be A Priority As We Adapt To Our New Climate Reality, MP WarnsRachel Reeves Announces £39 Billion Housing Boost As She Vows To ‘Renew’ BritainAngela Rayner Has Managed To Trigger The Tories By Buying A House

Comments

Breaking news

One dead and three injured after two planes crash mid-air

Metro

Comments

Breaking news

One dead and three injured after two planes crash mid-air

Two more people die after eating oysters tainted with flesh-eating bacteria

Viola Davis Explains Why Life Feels Better After Turning 60

Pierce Brosnan Had The Same Thought As Everyone Else When He Was Cast In The Thursday Murder Club

Trump Motorcade Gets A Very Blunt Message From A Lone Protester

Liz Truss And Elon Musk Stoke Anti-Asylum Sentiment With Misleading Clip Of Labour Minister

Emily Blunt Breaks Silence On Devil Wears Prada Sequel With 1-Word Comment

Snoop Dogg Rep Denies Rapper Apologised For Comments About Lesbian Couple In Disney Film

Which Couples From Love Is Blind UK Season 2 Are Still Married?

Harry Potter Director Insists Reunion Would Be 'Impossible' Due To JK Rowling Controversy

Trump investigator Robert Mueller diagnosed with Parkinson’s, family says

Breakthrough blood pressure treatment found to work even when others fail

Business news live: UK house prices fall with ‘market ‘struggling’ after stamp duty change

Average UK house price falls as ‘market catches its breath’

Asylum hotels latest: Cooper to unveil crackdown on asylum system after Epping ruling sparks fresh protests

Police launch urgent investigation after two people stabbed at Oxford Circus tube station

Blasts on Gaza skyline as Israel steps up bombardment of Palestine

Awkward moment Nick Robinson reminds Chris Philp he opened Bell Hotel for asylum seekers

September 2025 payment dates for benefits and pensions plus cost of living support

'You get to fly': Why Dutch athletes pole vault over canals

Royal Mail returns to profit after ‘year of change’

Australian state bans plastic fish soy sauce bottles due to risk to ocean

Maybe Rex Tillerson Was Right. Maybe Donald Trump Really Is Just A Moron.

Trump Breaks Silence On Health Rumours After Days Of Limited Appearances

The common vegetable that could ‘wreak havoc’ on your cat’s health

Photos show city balconies united under red flags for Vietnam's National Day

China's Xi seeks expanded role for Shanghai Cooperation Organization with development bank

Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida killed in Gaza, claims Israel

Australian state bans plastic fish soy sauce bottles favored by sushi eaters

A base deep in the Swedish forest is part of Europe's hope to compete in the space race

Airlines agrees to pay $79M lawsuit after plane dumped fuel on schools

Premium Bonds prize checker: When is September’s NS&I draw and how can I check if I’ve won?

Putin says he and Trump came to ‘understanding’ about how to end Ukraine war at Alaska summit

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka play each other at the US Open on Monday

Gilgo Beach serial killer case faces key test in use of new DNA techniques

Baby dies of whooping cough after pregnant woman was not vaccinated

Police officer injured after suspicious vehicle rams into gate of Russian consulate in Sydney

Motorists that play popular car game risk £5k fine and penalty points

New fund for young musicians set up in memory of Scots Manchester bombing victim

'I had no choice but spend my own brother's funeral in a human faeces-covered cell'

Brothers cut off sister's feet and gouge out her eyes in chilling 'honour killing'

Guard of honour for 100-year-old D-Day veteran at regimental museum in Hamilton

At least 43 Palestinians killed as Israeli offensive in Gaza City intensifies

Afghanistan earthquake sees more than 600 dead and 1,500 injured

'Rare' 50p listed online for £200k but coin collector issues urgent warning

Afghanistan earthquake UPDATES: Entire villages destroyed as 6.0 tremor kills 622

Liverpool AGREE record Alexander Isak transfer with Newcastle on deadline day

‘I was barred from my own brother’s funeral in a human feces-covered prison cell’

Brothers horror 'honour killing' as they gouge out sister's eyes and cut off both her feet'

Keir Starmer's 8 biggest challenges as he returns to Downing Street after recess

Only those with eyes of a hawk can spot hummingbird among plants in 10 seconds

'I lost 38 stone using a bodybuilder's diet of butter and eggs'

'I knew I had a problem but I didn't stop - then jelly started coming out of me'

7 money changes coming in September including Winter Fuel Payment date

Neurologist warns drug taken by millions 'could increase dementia chance by a third'

How the new free childcare scheme could push up nursery fees

Was 'Ozempic rage' a factor in grandmother allegedly stabbing boy, 10, in the neck? Doctor details 'toxic effect'

My wife and I are in our 70s and in extremely poor health - so why were we refused Attendance Allowance?

Meghan McCain sparks backlash after comparing Greta Thunberg's appearance to Shrek character

Want to live longer? Just make a simple daily kitchen change and you could make it to 100