Deputy PM resigns over stamp duty furore
Angela Rayner has resigned as Deputy Prime Minister after an investigation found she breached the Ministerial Code over the underpayment of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on the purchase of her Hove property.
The decision follows a review by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, who concluded that while Ms Rayner had acted with integrity and cooperated fully, her failure to pay the correct amount of SDLT – only rectified after public scrutiny – meant she had not upheld the “highest possible standards of proper conduct.”
Independent adviser’s findings
In his report to the Prime Minister, Sir Laurie said Ms Rayner relied on legal advice at the time of her property transaction but ignored warnings that it was not expert tax advice. He added that although her actions were not deliberate, her position in government meant the error carried greater weight.
“Given the consequences of getting such a calculation wrong, it is deeply regrettable that the specific tax advice was not sought,” Sir Laurie wrote, concluding the Ministerial Code had been breached.
Prime minister’s response
In a handwritten letter, the Prime Minister expressed sadness at Ms Rayner’s departure, praising her as a “living embodiment of social mobility” and highlighting her role in shaping housing policy and employment rights.
He acknowledged the resignation was the right decision under the strengthened standards system but said it was taken “with real sadness.”
Political consequences
Angela Rayner’s resignation delivered a severe blow to the Labour government. Critics across the spectrum seized on the scandal to paint a picture of hypocrisy and eroded trust: as Housing Secretary, Rayner’s underpayment of a sizeable £40,000 in stamp duty appeared especially brazen and contradictory.
Conservative leaders were swift to pounce. Kemi Badenoch lambasted the Prime Minister’s leniency, asserting bluntly that “if he had a backbone, he’d sack her” This line of attack underscored broader criticism: how could a figure who previously demanded high ethical standards from others escape scrutiny when she herself appeared to violate them?
The opposition’s attacks were more than rhetoric – they added pressure to an already fragile government, which is trailing Reform UK in many polls. With this incident raising uncomfortable questions about both transparency and judgment, the Rayner affair threatens to undermine Labour’s efforts to rebuild its integrity in office.
