UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner admitted on Wednesday, September 3, that she failed to pay the correct amount of property tax on a flat purchase, following days of intense scrutiny over her financial affairs.
The 45-year-old Labour politician revealed that she has referred herself to the government’s ethics adviser and informed tax authorities, blaming the mistake on “inaccurate” legal advice. Speaking on a Sky News podcast, Rayner said the situation left her questioning whether she should resign.
“I’ve been in shock, really, because I thought I’d done everything properly,” she said. “I relied on the advice that I received, and I’m devastated because I’ve always upheld the rules and have always felt proud to do that.”
The controversy revolves around her purchase of an apartment in Hove, southern England. Reports suggest she avoided paying approximately £40,000 in stamp duty by removing her name from the deeds of another property in her constituency, making the flat her sole ownership. Rayner explained that her lawyers failed to fully consider her personal circumstances, including a trust fund established for her disabled son, which resulted in the “appropriate stamp duty” not being paid at the time.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly supported Rayner in Parliament, praising her transparency. “She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. She’s gone over and above in setting out the details,” he told MPs, adding he was “proud to sit alongside” her.
Rayner, who left school without qualifications after becoming pregnant at 16, is a leading figure on Labour’s left wing and is often mentioned as a potential future party leader.
