Keir Starmer defended Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, saying she was a ‘great story of British success’, after the Tories called for a probe into her tax affairs
Keir Starmer has thrown his weight behind Angela Rayner – and warned critics it’s a “mistake” to talk her down.
The Deputy Prime Minister has come under fire in recent days over her tax arrangements following the purchase of a £800,000 seaside flat in Hove, in East Sussex.
But Mr Starmer defended his deputy, saying she was a “great story of British success”.
The Tories have called for Ms Rayner to face an ethics inquiry after reports she saved £40,000 in stamp duty because she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.
This means she did not have to pay a higher rate of tax for second homes on the Hove flat.
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Separately, she has previously declared her constituency home as her primary residence, which she owned with her ex-husband and where her children still live.
Critics have claimed it means she saves some £2,000 in council tax on a Government-owned flat she is entitled to use at Admiralty House in London. This is linked to her Government role, and she would have to leave if she left her job.
Ms Rayner has not commented on the row but her allies insist she has done nothing wrong and there is no suggestion
Downing Street said a court order prevented Ms Rayner from revealing relevant information, which she was working to rectify. The details of the order are not known.
Today, Mr Starmer offered a staunch defence of his deputy, who grew up in poverty and became a mum at 16.
“Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister,” the PM said. “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again. It’s a mistake.”
Mr Starmer accidentally referred to her as “an incredible Prime Minister” before correcting himself. He added: “What a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.
“I’m proud of that. I think we should be proud as a country that Angela Rayner is our Deputy Prime Minister, and that, by the way, will give I don’t know how many working-class children, particularly girls, a real sense of aspiration.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he retained full confidence in Ms Rayner. The spokesman added: “There is a court order which restricts her from providing further information, which she’s urgently working on rectifying in the interests of public transparency.”
A spokesperson for Ms Rayner previously said she paid “the relevant duty” owed on the Hove property “entirely properly”.
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