UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Admits Underpaying Stamp Dutyโค on Propertyโ Purchase
LONDON – British Deputy Prime Minister Angela โขRayner has acknowledged underpaying stamp duty when purchasing โคa second home,triggeringโค calls for her dismissal from โConservative party leader Kemi Badenoch. The admission comes amidst a โฃseries of recent scandals to plague the Labour government, with four ministers already โforced to resign over wrongdoing since โtheโ party’sโค election.
Rayner, a key electoral asset for Labour known for her โdirectโฃ dialog style and connection with ordinary voters, โstated โฃshe had relinquished her stake in her northern England constituency home when she bought the new property. She explained she had placed her stake in the constituency home into โฃa โขtrust established in 2020 to manageโค funds for her son, โwho has lifelongโข disabilities resulting from an injury.
According to Rayner, earlier tax advice was incorrect, and โmore recent counsel from a senior โขlawyerโค steadfast โshe had underpaid theโ tax.โฃ She has since contacted tax โคauthorities to arrange payment.
the controversy โฃunfolded during Prime Minister’s Questions in โฃParliament, where Badenoch demanded Rayner’s โฃremoval. Prime Minister Keirโข Starmer defended Rayner, asserting โshe โhad “gone over andโฃ above” expected disclosures regarding her property affairs and that he โwas “very โฃproud” to work with her.
This incident โฃmarks the second time in recent weeks โขa โminister in โขStarmer’s government has faced scrutiny over property dealings. Last month, Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali resigned after allegations โsurfacedโ regarding tenant evictions and โขrent increases.
Rayner’s background contrastsโ sharply โwith โคthe โtraditionally eliteโ backgrounds of many in โฃBritish politics. โShe grew up in public housing, left school โat 16 โwhileโ pregnant, and worked as aโ caregiver and union representative before entering politics.