EYE NEWSFLASH: Angela Rayner resigns from government over tax affairs

| Marc da Silva
Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner has stepped down from her roles as deputy prime minister, housing secretary, and deputy leader of the Labour Party following revelations that she failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a property she purchased in East Sussex.

Her resignation follows the publication of a report by Sir Laurie Magnus, ethics adviser to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, which criticised Rayner for not seeking “specific tax advice” despite being advised to do so by her legal team.

In his findings, Magnus stated that Rayner’s “unfortunate failure” to resolve her tax obligations meant she “cannot be considered to have met the highest possible standards of proper conduct.”

See Sir Laurie Magnus’s letter below, along with Rayner’s resignation letter, and Sir Kier Starmer’s handwritten response.

 

Angela Rayner’s letter of resignation:

The first page of Angela Rayner's resignation letter - it reads as follows; Dear Keir, Thank you for the personal and public support you have shown me in recent days. As you know, on Wednesday I referred myself to your Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, to conduct a thorough investigation into my personal financial circumstances after I became aware that it is likely I inadvertently paid the incorrect rate for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). I have always taken my responsibilities as Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as a Member of Parliament with the utmost seriousness. I have long believed that people who serve the British public in government must always observe the highest standards, and while the Independent Adviser has concluded that I acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout, I accept that I did not meet the highest standards in relation to my recent property purchase. I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice given both my position as Housing Secretary and my complex family arrangements. I take full responsibility for this error. I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount. I must also consider the significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking on my family. While I rightly expect proper scrutiny on me and my life, my family did not choose to have their private lives interrogated and exposed so publicly. I have been clear throughout this process that my priority has, and always will be, protecting my children and the strain I am putting them under through staying in post has become unbearable. Given the findings, and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. 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. I've always known that politics changes lives because it changed mine. The last Labour government gave me the tools I needed to build a better life for me and my young son, and that's why I've been working relentlessly from day one in government to do the same for the next generation. Every day I had in office, I worked to serve working class communities like the one that I grew up in, which are too often overlooked by those in power. I am proud that in every decision I made, I did it for them. I would never have become Deputy Prime Minister if not for the decisions taken by the last Labour Government, giving me a council house to support me, Sure Start to help raise my kids, and the security of a minimum wage - and I can only hope that the changes I made in government will have the same impact for young girls growing up on council estates like I did. Through my Employment Rights Bill people across the country will receive the biggest uplift in workers' rights in a generation. This landmark legislation will be game changing for millions of people stuck in insecure and low-paid work, giving them the dignity and security they don't just need but also deserve. I am and will remain deeply proud of that legacy. I am so proud to have worked alongside the trade union movement, who have given me everything, to deliver that.

The second page of Rayner's letter - It reads as follows; Our Renters' Rights Bill will finally ban the oppressive rule of no-fault evictions and will reset the balance between renters and landlords through ground breaking protection for renters. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home, and I know this legislation will deliver that for millions of people across the country. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also be instrumental in getting the homes so many people across this country need built, and I am so proud that at the Spending Review we announced the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation with the overwhelming amount of this going to genuinely social rent homes. And last week, I introduced the English Devolution Bili to Parliament. The largest single package of devolution from any Westminster government to local people across England. This landmark legislation will permanently change the balance of power, giving true control to those with skin in game. We delivered an Elections Strategy which will mean 16 and 17 year olds getting the vote for the first time, as well as ambitious plans to ensure the most marginalised communities are registered to vote. We took steps to stabilise the broken foundations of local government and deliver the first genuinely fair funding review and the first multi-year settlement for a decade. My department, through my excellent team of Ministers, has also provided the largest ever investment in homelessness prevention services to local authorities, to get Britain back on track to ending homelessness for good. We've worked relentlessly to bring an end to the building safety crisis and developed new measures to get peoples' homes fixed quicker and hold rogue freeholders to account. We've also worked to boost community cohesion, tackle hate crime and reset the relationship with faith communities. I have been lucky to work alongside the most talented group of Ministers who worked with dedication to deliver for working people. I thank Matthew Pennycook, Jim McMahon, Alex Norris, Wajid Khan and Sharon Taylor. I too am grateful to my brilliant parliamentary team, Harpreet Uppal, Mark Ferguson, and Gen Kitchen. 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. Yours sincerely, The Rt. Hon. Angela Rayner MP Representing Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Droylsden and Dukinfield Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

 

Sir Laurie Magnus’s letter to the PM: 

a screenshot of Magnus's letter

a screenshot of Magnus's letter

Magnus writes:

 

Sir Kier Starmer’s handwritten response to Angela Rayner:

Starmer's handwritten letter to his former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner

Starmer's handwritten letter to his former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner

 

Starmer's handwritten letter to his former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner

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6 Comments

  1. Taliesin84
    September 5, 2025 at 13:08

    Hallebloodylujah

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  2. letstalk
    September 5, 2025 at 13:10

    So you are proud that thousands of people have been made redundant and you are going to offer voting rights to people not yet old enough to pay tax, let alone understand how the system works. As for the Renters Rights Bill… The only way it will change anything, like all the legislation before it, is the adequate arrangement of investment into the resources needed to police and enforce it alongside a robust court system, something you have not implemented….

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  3. AcornsRNuts
    September 5, 2025 at 13:11

    Her letter – pure PR.
    “Independent” ethics advisor letter – pure BS
    TTK letter – suck up to the far left members of the Labour Party.

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    1. MrManyUnits
      September 5, 2025 at 13:33

      No mention of her defrauding the country.

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  4. Hendrix
    September 5, 2025 at 14:53

    Best news todate from Labour – Stalin Starmer next perhaps.?

    Bottom line red Angie was no:2 supposedly “running the country” and as have many said on this platform what hope over the next 3 years for the UK let alone the property industry is there ?

    As posted previously – a solicitor obtains & supplied with the clients personal circumstances etc and once a transaction exchanges prior to completion issues a statement of expenditures.

    ‘Nuff said.

    Supported by Labour cronies and perhaps Starmers poodle to maintain the level of support from persons similar to her origins. Only positive thing is Angie went up the ladder but inevitable perhaps through self importance thought she could buck the system.

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  5. BillyTheFish
    September 5, 2025 at 16:42

    It doesn’t matter who is in power – left, middle, right, Hitler – until someone tries something new it will be the same result. Tax work or tax wealth. Tax income or assets. It is not a political thing, it is about whether your children and grandchildren are living in a slum or not.
    This applies to anyone with less than £10mill in the bank. If that is you, you’re on the menu so choose wisely when you next vote. Support each other or support the ultra-rich.

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