Deputy PM fights for job over £40k in stamp duty

Angela Rayner is fighting for her political future after admitting she failed to pay £40,000 in tax when purchasing a property.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL MILLIE COOKE DAVID MADDOX

After weeks of speculation about her property arrangements, the deputy prime minister conceded that she had not paid enough stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex.

In an emotional televised interview yesterday, Ms Rayner, who is also the housing secretary, said she had been “in shock” and “devastated” over the fallout. She insisted it was not a “tax dodge” and blamed the underpayment “mistake” on incorrect legal advice.

She told Sky News: “I thought I’d done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and I’m devastated because I’ve always upheld the rules and always have done. And always felt proud to do that. I feel ... that it is devastating for me.”

Asked if she had considered resigning, she said she had “spoken to my family about it”.

Ms Rayner referred herself to the prime minister’s independent ethics adviser, who will interview her over the property purchase in the coming days as part of an investigation into the scandal.

At PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer backed Ms Rayner, saying he was “very proud to sit alongside” her, and praised her decision to refer herself to the independent ethics adviser.

But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister should sack his deputy. She added: “I remember when the prime minister said tax evasion is a criminal offence, and should be treated as all other fraud. If he had a backbone he would sack her."

Ms Rayner spoke out hours after a court order was lifted that had prevented her from disclosing information about her property arrangements.