Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned from government after the PM’s ethics adviser concluded that she had breached the ministerial code – and we’ve asked Mirror readers to have their say on the decision
Angela Rayner has stepped down from government after she admitted to not paying the right amount of stamp duty on her second home – and we want to hear your thoughts on her decision.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced the news this morning, after the PM’s ethics adviser concluded that she had breached the ministerial code. Watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus said Ms Rayner’s actions failed to meet the “highest possible standards of proper conduct” over her failure to pay the correct level of stamp duty.
However, he said that Ms Rayner had “acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service”. On Thursday, the housing secretary faced calls to step down after she admitted to receiving incorrect legal advice on her £800k flat in Hove, meaning she could have saved around £40,000.
In a letter to Keir Starmer that was published today, Ms Rayner confirmed her exit from government. She has resigned from all three of her positions, including the elected position of Deputy Labour leader, an elected position among party members.
She says: “For a teenage mum from a council estate in Stockport to serve as the highest level of government has been the honour of my life. The challenges of government are nothing compared to the challenge of putting food on the table and getting a roof over our head when I brought up kids working as a home help. Too many people face the same across our country.” She adds: “I have been lucky to work alongside the most talented group of Ministers who worked with dedication to deliver for working people.
“For me, being in office is the chance to change the lives of the people I grew up alongside. I will do whatever I can to continue doing so. Thank you for your leadership and for your friendship. I will continue to serve you, our country and the party and movement I love in the weeks, months and years ahead.”
Starmer responded with a letter, which read: “You were right to refer yourself to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and right to act on his conclusion.
“Your work at MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) to help build the homes that Britain needs has been hugely important and your work to create more fairness in the workplace through the Employment Rights Bill represents a very significant achievement that will change the lives of millions of people.
“On a personal note, I am very sad to be losing you from the Government. You have been a trusted colleague and a true friend for many years. I have nothing but admiration for you and huge respect for your achievements in politics.”
No10 has confirmed that the PM is conducting a reshuffle of his government after Angela Rayner’s departure. It is understood Rachel Reeves will remain as Chancellor – but the changes are expected to be sweeping.
It comes after Starmer defended his former deputy in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, hailing that she did the “right” thing by referring herself to an ethics probe. He continued: “But I can be clear, I’m very proud to sit alongside a Deputy Prime Minister who is building 1.5 million homes… who’s come from a working class background.”
Ms Rayner told Sky News that she “alerted and referred” herself to the ethics adviser “as soon as” she learned she had been liable to pay additional stamp duty. She said: “I think the accusations were that I set up a trust and I flipped it to try and avoid paying it. But actually the complex area of the trust which the advice that I relied upon didn’t pick that up.
“The leading tax counsel who has subsequently looked at it has gone into that and said that actually, because of that, it did remain my sole property and the trust wasn’t set up as accusations have been made for me to try and flip… dodge tax.”
In a statement released this week, she discussed the “complex living arrangement” as her first home was sold to a trust after her divorce to provide stability for her disabled son, who is the sole beneficiary of the trust, writes Sky News. Following the announcement, we want to know if you think Ms Angela made the right decision to quit? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.
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