Lawyers deny giving Rayner tax advice on flat purchase

Angela Rayner’s lawyers insist they did not give her tax advice on her flat at the centre of a scandal and claim they have been made scapegoats.

- JANE DALTON

Conveyancing firm Verrico & Associates, which managed the purchase of her £800,000 apartment in Hove, East Sussex, insisted it had done everything “correctly and in good faith”, it has been reported.

The deputy prime minister has blamed “legal advice” for paying about £30,000 in stamp duty rather than £70,000 when she bought the seaside home.

Sources close to Ms Rayner had said she received the legal advice from a conveyancer and two experts in trust law on the amount of stamp duty paid - but none has been identified.

Verrico & Associates, based in Herne Bay, Kent, confirmed it had advised the deputy prime minister on the flat purchase but insisted it had done nothing wrong.

Joanna Verrico, the managing director, told The Telegraph: “We acted for Ms Rayner when she purchased the flat in Hove. We did not and never have given tax or trust advice. It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for.