Rayner undone by stamp duty ‘mistake’ on flat

DEPUTY Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned from the government.

- By MIRANDA PELL

Her resignation comes after an investigation into her tax affairs by Sir Keir Starmer’s independent standards adviser found she had breached ministerial code.

Ashton MP Rayner had faced mounting pressure to stand down over recent days after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on the £800,000 flat she bought in Hove earlier this year.

Ms Rayner paid £40,000 less of the surcharge on the property than she should have - as she claimed it was her main home rather than a second home.

Yesterday morning she wrote to the Prime Minister to resign as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.