Angela Rayner quits government over tax scandal

Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy prime minister, deputy leader of the Labour Party, and housing secretary.

It comes after she referred herself to the prime minister's ethics adviser earlier this week following the admission she underpaid stamp duty on a £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex.

It was found she had paid £40,000 less of the surcharge on the property that she should have as she claimed it was her main home rather than a second home.

Rayner also claimed she was badly advised when purchasing the flat and said she 'deeply' regretted the 'error'.

Keir Starmer had resisted calls from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to sack his deputy, but promised to 'act' on the ethics report which was given to him by watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus on Wednesday (3 September) morning.

He said Rayner had 'acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service' but concluded that she had breached the ministerial code over her tax affairs.

He also reportedly told Rayner 'you will remain a major figure in our party' and will 'continue to fight for the causes you care so passionately about' as she resigned, according to PA.

She wrote in a letter to Starmer: "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice,” as she took 'full responsibility for this error' and resigned from her positions as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party.