Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned from government after the prime minister’s ethics adviser concluded she breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat.
The ruling, delivered by Sir Laurie Magnus, is a heavy blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who until now had defended his deputy. While Magnus praised Rayner for having “acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service,” he also determined her handling of tax affairs fell short of ministerial standards.
Starmer expressed personal sorrow at her departure, describing her as integral to the Labour government’s mission. In a letter, he said he was “very sad” to see her go and that he held “nothing but admiration” for her. “As you know, we acted in accordance with the strengthened system relating to ministerial conduct that we put in place on coming into government,” he wrote.
“You were right to refer yourself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards and right to act on his conclusion. Although I believe you have reached the right decision, it is a decision which I know is very painful for you. You have given your all to making the Labour government a success and you have been a central part of our plan to make Britain fairer for working families.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Rayner has stepped down from her positions as deputy prime minister, housing secretary, and deputy leader of the Labour Party. The resignation represents one of the deepest political crises Starmer has faced since entering Downing Street, leaving his leadership wounded and forcing an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. Downing Street confirmed Chancellor Rachel Reeves would remain in her role.
Resignation Sparks Fierce Political Backlash
In her resignation letter, Rayner acknowledged mistakes in handling her tax obligations. She wrote that she “deeply regrets” not seeking “additional specialist tax advice” during the purchase of her Hove property.
She explained that the “significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking” on her family also influenced her decision. Reflecting on her personal journey, she noted that going from “a teenage mum from a council estate in Stockport” to a senior office had been “the honour of my life.”
Her exit quickly ignited criticism from political rivals. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage used his keynote address at his party’s annual conference to portray the resignation as evidence of Labour’s weaknesses.
Farage said the scandal “screams to entitlement” and argued that the Labour government is “as bad – if not worse – than the one that went before.”
He went further, declaring the administration “deep in crisis” and “not fit to govern.” His remarks came after he rescheduled his speech to respond directly to Rayner’s resignation.
Farage accused Starmer of surrounding himself with “wholly unqualified people” and mocked Rayner as “an accomplished property developer and speculator.”
He reiterated his prediction that a general election might be called as soon as 2027, earlier than many observers anticipate.
Rayner’s departure now marks a pivotal moment for Labour, testing Starmer’s ability to hold his party together while delivering on promises of fairer governance.
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