I acted as any parent would Rayner's statement in full

When she bought the £800,000 property in May, she paid the standard rate of stamp duty, estimated to be £30,000, rather than the higher rate for second homes, which would have been as much as £70,000.

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Following the substantial scrutiny surrounding my living arrangements, I wanted to set out the facts as openly and transparently as I can.

Until now, an undertaking in court order prevented me from disclosing information about certain aspects of my personal life. In the interests of public transparency, I applied to the court and I was last night released from this undertaking.

Family life can be complicated, and it is no secret that, like many families across the country, my domestic arrangements reflect these complexities. Throughout my career, I have always tried to be the best mum to my children, while managing the demanding realities of public service.

There has been a lot of speculation in recent days about my domestic arrangements and in particular the home I share with my ex-husband and my family. While I do not find it easy to publicly discuss personal and sometimes distressing family matters, I have always taken my responsibility as an MP and deputy prime minister seriously and tried to be as open as possible while protecting my family.

To address the allegations made against me I have now taken the difficult decision to explain why my arrangements are as they are.