Rayner cannot survive these hypocrisy charges for long

With her admission that she did not pay her tax properly, Angela Rayner appears to have put herself on the fast-track to the exit door of government.

- DAVID MADDOX

It is a remarkable turn of fortune for a politician who, until yesterday, was considered a potential leadership candidate, should Keir Starmer’s woeful poll ratings continue to fall.

But given her own outspoken criticism of former Tory ministers for not resigning over misconduct when she was in opposition - “one rule for them, another for everybody else” - she at the very least looks like a hypocrite for not resigning but in reality may still rapidly be running out of time.

Starmer, both in opposition and as prime minister, has vowed to clean up British politics and repeatedly said he will not stand for sleaze in his government or party. Ministers who do not uphold his standards have not remained in post - Louise Haigh, Tulip Siddiq and most recently Rushanara Ali have all resigned after the prime minister made it clear their positions were untenable.