Angela Rayner has resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and UK Housing Secretary after failing to pay enough stamp duty on a flat she bought in East Sussex.
Her decision came shortly after Sir Keir Starmer received a report from Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards.
The deputy PM has admitted to underpaying stamp duty on a property, but blamed the “error” on inadequate legal advice.
The week began with Sir Keir saying he was “proud” of his deputy and that “talking her down” was “a big mistake”.
But ahead of Prime Minister’s Question on Wednesday, Ms Rayner admitted she paid the wrong amount of tax and referred herself to the ethics adviser.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who had earlier in the week voiced his support for Ms Rayner, given her caring duties for her son, said it was “clear” her position became “untenable”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, said the decision was “inevitanle” adding that “you can’t be housing secretary and avoid £40,000 of stamp duty”.
Mr Farage, speaking frrom his party’s annual conference in Birmingham, said “you’re going to see the hard left of Labour shouting very, very loudly”.
Voters in Ms Rayner’s Ashton-under-Lyne constituency showed little support for her situation and demanded that she go.
Teaching assistant Julie Doherty, 59, said: “She deserves to be sacked for what she’s done. There’s little sympathy for her round here.”
… more follows
source