ANGELA Rayner’s political career is on the brink this morning, as the outcome of a sleaze inquiry into her tax affairs is anticipated within hours.
The Deputy PM faces being SACKED by Sir Keir Starmer should his chief ethics adviser determine she violated the ministerial code by dodging £40,000 in stamp duty.
Angela Rayner could be sacked TODAY with an ethics probe into her tax affairs expected imminently[/caption]
The Deputy PM’s fate rests with Downing Street’s chief sleaze-buster Sir Laurie Magnus, who has been probing her failure to pay £40,000 in stamp duty[/caption]
Sir Laurie Magnus’ report is expected imminently and could spell the end of Ms Rayner’s tenure in government.
Labour front benchers continued to defend Ms Rayner’s character amid the scandal on Friday morning.
Asked whether he trusted the Deputy PM, Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said: “Listen, I really want to live in a country in which someone with Angela Rayner’s circumstances and background can rise to one of the highest offices in the country.
“I have to say I should declare an interest – I really like Angela Rayner.
“We’re a rather improbable group of friends. We come from very different circumstances.
“If you look at the challenges that Angela Rayner has overcome, not only do I like and respect her but, yes, I think she’s in politics for the right reasons.”
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned Sir Laurie must avoid any perceptions of a “whitewash” in his ethics report.
She said: “We already know that Angela Rayner was lobbying to increase stamp duty in the upcoming Budget. What we don’t know is what other discussions she was having with the Treasury about hiking taxes on the family home.
“To avoid any accusations of a whitewash, the Ethics Adviser must examine all the material that Rayner’s Housing Department sent the Treasury about any proposed property taxes.
“We need to know whether the Deputy Prime Minister chose to sell her property ahead of the forthcoming Budget because she knew taxes were about to go up.”
THE SUN SAYS
SIR Keir Starmer yesterday refused five times to say he’d fire Angela Rayner if she’s found to have breached the ministerial code by dodging £40,000 of stamp duty.
To many, this will smack of hypocrisy.
In opposition, Sir Keir and his deputy were lightning-quick to demand Tory resignations. Indeed, they were incandescent when Boris Johnson chose to stand by Priti Patel after a code breach.
What’s so different now?
In truth, it gets ever harder to see how Rayner can survive.
We have now learned she knew on Monday that it was likely she had underpaid the taxman when purchasing an £800,000 seaside flat in Hove.
Yet her Cabinet colleagues were still sent out to defend her, smearing journalists asking legitimate questions about her property affairs.
Even yesterday, the ministerial wagons were still being circled around her.
Amazingly, Leader of the House Lucy Powell claimed Rayner was being attacked only because she was doing a “bloody good job”.
Can the Labour high command not see how bad it looks to have a housing minister who doesn’t know the rules on housing tax, and didn’t bother to get proper advice from someone who did?
The verdict of an inquiry by ethics chief Laurie Magnus could come as soon as today.
Whatever he decides, Rayner is now stripped of all credibility.
The Housing Secretary suffered a significant setback last night, as her solicitors accused the Deputy PM of “scapegoating” them to defend her tax avoidance.
Ms Rayner had tried to blame bad legal advice for failing to pay £40,000 of stamp duty.
But the small family firm she used, Verrico and Associates, said it had based its calculations on info Rayner herself provided. The firm added it had been made “scapegoats”.
Ms Rayner paid £30,000 instead of the full £70,000 on her pad in Hove, near Brighton — which has since had graffiti daubed outside calling her a “tax evader”.
The Prime Minister refused five times yesterday to say if he will sack his No2, insisting he would act on the findings of a sleaze probe which could come back as early as today.
But the controversy deepened with a damning intervention by the boss of conveyancing firm Verrico & Associates, who said they have been made a scapegoat and she “had arrows stuck in her back” over the scandal.
Joanna Verrico said: “We did not and never have given tax or trust advice.
“It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for.
“The stamp duty for the Hove flat was calculated using HMRC’s own online calculator based on the figures and the information provided by Ms Rayner.
“That’s what we used and it told us we had to pay £30,000 based on the information provided to us.
“We believe that we did everything correctly and in good faith.
“Everything was exactly as it should be.”
She added: “We probably are being made scapegoats for all this and I’ve got the arrows stuck in my back to show it.”
ANGE'S HOUSE MUSIC
By Ava Solieri
IT’S a viral hit — but an AI-created rap track will fall flat with nightclub fan Angela Rayner.
The Deputy PM’s computer-generated double is shown dancing in the House of Commons in a skit titled How Many Homes Can Rayner Buy?
She is also seen flashing the cash, wearing a fur coat over her tracksuit and smoking two cigarettes at once.
The clip has already racked up hundreds of thousands of views online. Lyrics include: “Bought me one house, bought me two; Flip another flat, taxman no clue; £80K saved with a Brighton tan; Dodgin’ more duty than the average man.
“How many homes, I’ll name ’em all; Big Ange dancin’ in the Commons hall; Taxman cryin’, Rayner smilin’; One rule for me, none for thee!”
Meanwhile, Tories attacked Sir Keir for not firing Ms Rayner, who they labelled a “hypocrite” after she called for multiple sackings over tax issues when she was in opposition.
The PM said he would wait for the report from the ethics adviser before deciding what to do about his deputy, who is also the Housing Secretary.
But he repeatedly refused to say whether he would sack her if she was found to have breached the ministerial code.
He told the BBC: “There’s a clear procedure.
“I strengthened that procedure.
“I’m expecting a result pretty quickly.
“I do want it to be comprehensive . . . and then of course I’ll act on whatever the report is that’s put in front of me.”
Ms Rayner’s purchase saw her nicknamed “Three Pads” as it came on top of her family constituency home in Greater Manchester and her grace-and-favour central London pad.
Runners and Riders to replace Angela Rayner as Deputy PM
Wes Streeting – Odds: 4/1
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary and MP for Ilford North, is one of Labour’s most visible frontbenchers.
Known for his confident media presence and centrist appeal, he has built a reputation as a strong communicator and effective campaigner.
In the betting markets he is currently the frontrunner, priced at 4/1 to become the next Deputy PM.
Yvette Cooper – Odds: 9/2
Yvette Cooper, now serving as Home Secretary, brings long experience across several senior Cabinet and shadow roles.
But while she has served her time in parliament, she’s struggled to grapple with the small boats crisis.
Bookmakers currently place her as second favourite in the Deputy PM betting, at 9/2.
Ms Cooper’s established standing in the party and depth of experience make her a serious option if a successor is needed.
Pat McFadden – Odds: 12/1
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is a senior figure trusted with coordinating government business and intergovernmental relations.
While not the most high-profile member of the Cabinet, he is seen as a reliable operator with close ties to Sir Keir’s leadership team.
In the markets he is currently priced at 12/1 to take on the Deputy PM role.
His reputation for quiet competence and steady management keeps him in contention as a possible candidate.
Darren Jones – Odds: 20/1
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, is one of the younger faces in government with growing Cabinet responsibilities.
Last week he was moved by Sir Keir Starmer from the Treasury to a new No10 role focused on delivering policies and reporting directly to the PM.
Bookmakers view him as an outsider, giving him odds of 20/1 to step into the Deputy PM role.
While less established than some of his colleagues, his rising influence means he could be considered in a reshuffle.
Before buying it, she removed herself from the deeds of her family property, though that is still listed as her primary residence.
This meant she did not pay the full second-home stamp duty.
Graffiti outside her new seaside apartment building yesterday read “tax exader”.
Daubings over the road also said: “Tax evader Rayner” and “Rayner tax avoidance.”
Before buyiung the £800,000 flat, she removed herself from the deeds of her constituency home, so did not pay the full second home stamp duty.
It emerged yesterday she sought new legal advice last Friday evening following days of speculation about whether she had paid enough tax.
On Monday evening, her advisers appeared to suggest that previous advice had been incorrect and she owed more.
HMRC site's easy advice
BASIC tax advice on a government website states Ms Rayner was not eligible to swerve the higher stamp duty rate.
The Deputy PM has admitted underpaying up to £40,000 on her second home in Hove.
She blamed the “mistake” on legal advice, claiming lawyers indicated she was not liable for the stamp duty surcharge as she had sold her stake in her constituency property to a trust.
However, HM Revenue & Customs advice on an official website states that if you own more than one home worth £40,000 or more, the higher rate applies to your new purchase.
Follow-up legal advice, sought after the scandal broke, confirmed the position for Ms Rayner.
Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston said: “No reasonable and sensible person would need to seek expert tax advice to understand that this tax situation was dodgy.”
