Angela Rayner Steps Down for Tax Issue

Angela Rayner Resigns from UK Government Over Tax Issue

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, has resigned from her positions after admitting to not paying enough tax on her second home in Hove, East Sussex. She also stepped down as the deputy leader of the Labour Party. Rayner acknowledged that she should have paid a higher rate of stamp duty on the property as it was her second home.

Her resignation has prompted a cabinet reshuffle by Sir Keir Starmer, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves being the only minister guaranteed to retain her position. Rayner's decision to resign came after Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister's standards adviser, found that she had breached the ministerial code by not settling her stamp duty liability and not seeking specific tax advice initially.

In her resignation letter to Sir Keir, Rayner expressed regret for the strain her children had endured due to her remaining in office. She emphasized that her intention was always to pay the correct amount of tax. Rayner highlighted her background as a working-class individual and her commitment to serving marginalized communities through her political decisions.

Political leaders from other parties reacted swiftly to Rayner's resignation. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Sir Keir for not dismissing Rayner earlier, calling her position untenable. Nigel Farage expressed concerns over the tax issue, labeling it as indicative of entitlement and a failure in the government's promise of a new political approach.

Rayner's resignation has sparked discussions about potential divisions within the Labour Party, particularly in the upcoming internal election for the deputy leader position. Farage warned of emerging sectarian politics and expressed his disapproval of such trends in the country.