UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has admitted to failing to pay the correct amount of property tax on a flat purchase, acknowledging the error after days of intense scrutiny over her financial affairs.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 3, Rayner, 45, said she had referred herself to the government’s ethics adviser and reported the matter to tax authorities, attributing the oversight to “inaccurate” legal advice. She told Sky News that the situation had left her questioning whether she should resign.
“I’ve been in shock, really, because I thought I’d done everything properly,” Rayner said. “I relied on the advice that I received, and I’m devastated because I’ve always upheld the rules and always have felt proud to do that.”
The controversy centres on her purchase of a flat in Hove, southern England. Reports allege she avoided paying £40,000 in stamp duty by removing her name from the deeds of another property in her constituency, leaving the Hove apartment as her sole ownership. Rayner explained that her lawyers failed to take into account her full personal circumstances, including a trust fund set up for her disabled son, which led to the incorrect tax payment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his deputy in parliament, commending her openness. “She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. She’s gone over and above in setting out the details,” he told MPs, adding that he was “proud to sit alongside” her.
Rayner, who left school at 16 with no qualifications after becoming pregnant, has risen to become a key figure on Labour’s left and is often seen as a potential future party leader.