Conservatives call for ethics probe into Angela Rayner’s tax affairs

Saturday 30 August 2025 9:22 am
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Saturday 30 August 2025 9:23 am

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner ought to face an ethics inquiry over her tax affairs, the Conservatives have stated.

The Telegraph newspaper claimed that Rayner, who can also be the Housing Secretary, saved £40,000 in stamp obligation on a second dwelling she purchased in Hove for £800,000.

This was as a result of she eliminated her identify from the deed to a household property in Higher Manchester, the newspaper reported.

Nonetheless, Rayner additionally beforehand instructed the Higher Manchester dwelling remained her main residence, in line with the Telegraph, saving some £2,000 in council tax on her grace and favour dwelling in central London at Admiralty Home.

The Conservatives have referred Rayner to the Prime Minister’s impartial adviser on ministers’ pursuits on account of the conflicting reviews.

Stamp obligation is a tax paid in England and Northern Eire, when somebody buys a property over a sure worth.

Rayner paid £30,000 as a substitute of £70,000 on her Hove second dwelling on account of eradicating her identify from the deed to the house in Ashton-under-Lyne, the Telegraph stated.

Rayner referred to authorities

Ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus assesses whether or not senior elected officers inside the authorities have breached the ministerial code.

In a letter to Sir Laurie, Conservative get together chairman Kevin Hollinrake described Ms Rayner’s preparations as “hypocritical tax avoidance, by a minister who helps greater taxes on household houses, high-value houses and second houses”.

As Housing Secretary, Rayner is liable for overseeing council tax and housing coverage.

Hollinrake stated the statements the Deputy Prime Minister had given on her residency have been “contradictory”, however conceded she had damaged no legal guidelines.

As he referred to as for an investigation into her tax affairs, the Tory chairman stated: “She is paying second houses council tax to Brighton and Hove council on a property that she tells HMRC just isn’t a second dwelling.

“This can be lawful, however it’s inappropriate tax avoidance for a minister topic to greater requirements of conduct.”

The Tories have additionally written to Tameside council, the authority that covers Rayner’s Higher Manchester dwelling, asking the authority to strike her from the electoral register if the property is not her main residence.

A Cupboard Workplace spokesman stated Ms Rayner “has adopted recommendation on the allocation of her official residence always”.

A press release offered by the Deputy Prime Minister’s crew to the Telegraph stated: “The Deputy Prime Minister paid the related obligation owing on the acquisition of the Hove property consistent with related necessities and fully correctly.

“Any suggestion in any other case is solely with out foundation.”

Ms Rayner divorced her husband and ceased to personal a stake within the Higher Manchester dwelling a while in the past, in line with the Telegraph, and he or she nonetheless considers it her main residence as a result of her kids reside there.