I will act on the report

STARMER'S PLEDGE OVER STANDARDS ADVISER IN RAYNER STAMP DUTY ROW

- By JAMES HOLT

SIR Keir Starmer has vowed to act on the findings of his independent standards adviser after deputy PM Angela Rayner admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove this year.

But the prime minister has declined to say if he will sack Ashton-under-Lyne MP Ms Rayner should the investigation find that she broke the ministerial code after she underpayed tax on the new property.

In an interview with the BBC, he said: “There’s a clear procedure. I strengthened that procedure. I am expecting a result pretty quickly.

“I do want it to be comprehensive... and then of course I will act on whatever the report is that’s put in front of me”.

Ms Rayner has been under mounting pressure in recent weeks after reports emerged she had saved £40,000 in stamp duty on a property purchase in Hove by not paying the higher rate reserved for additional home purchases.

She referred herself to independent adviser Sir Laurie and said she made a ‘mistake’ in paying the standard rate, based on legal advice she received at the time. Sir Keir and his Cabinet have rallied round the deputy prime minister amid opposition calls for her to resign over the error, with the prime minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves both expressing ‘full confidence’ in her.