PM DEFENDS RAYNER

KEIR Starmer yesterday backed Angela Rayner, saying she has gone over and above in explaining how she failed to pay enough tax when buying an £800,000 flat.

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Facing questions about her future, she said she received incorrect legal advice, meaning she saved about £40,000 in stamp duty on the second home in Hove, Sussex.

The Deputy PM, who is also the Housing Secretary, said she deeply regrets the error and appeared emotional in a TV interview where she said she had discussed resigning with her family.

She also referred herself to a watchdog and vowed to repay any tax owed.

Starmer said he was very proud to sit alongside his deputy at Prime Minister's Questions, saying she had done the right thing to refer herself to an ethics probe. He added: “She has explained her personal circumstances in detail.

“She's gone over and above in setting out the details including, Mr Speaker, yesterday afternoon, asking a court to lift a confidentiality order in relation to her own son.”