UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Resigns, Details Emerge
- Angela Rayner has resigned as Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister after admitting to underpaying £40,000 in property tax, triggering a breach of the ministerial code
- Her departure deals a major blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had previously offered her full support
- The resignation has intensified political pressure on Labour, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gains ground in the polls
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British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday following revelations that she had underpaid property tax on a new home, marking a significant setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Rayner’s departure, prompted by a breach of the ministerial code, has intensified scrutiny of the Labour government amid growing political pressure.
Source: Twitter
Property Tax Breach Forces Angela Rayner’s Resignation
Rayner, 45, announced her resignation after Britain’s independent adviser on ministerial standards concluded she had violated the code by failing to pay the correct tax on a property transaction. The adviser stated that Rayner had ignored legal advice urging her to seek specialist guidance on her complex financial arrangements.
In her resignation letter, Rayner admitted to the error, saying, “I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice… I take full responsibility for this error.” She added that the impact on her family had influenced her decision to step down as both Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Keir Starmer Responds to Rayner’s Departure
Prime Minister Starmer expressed sorrow over Rayner’s resignation, describing her as “a trusted colleague and a true friend.” In an emotional letter, he acknowledged the pain of her decision but affirmed that she remained “a major figure in our party.”
Rayner’s exit marks the eighth ministerial resignation from Starmer’s team outside of formal reshuffles, making him the prime minister with the highest number of such departures at the start of a tenure in nearly five decades—surpassing even Boris Johnson’s tumultuous early period in office.
Reform UK Capitalises on Labour’s Crisis
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK seized on the resignation to criticise Labour’s leadership. Speaking at the party’s conference in Birmingham, Farage claimed the government was in “deep crisis” and suggested that Labour might call an early election before 2027 due to waning support.
“Despite all the promises that this would be a new, different type of politics, it is as bad, if not worse, than the one that went before,” Farage told attendees, drawing loud applause.
Labour currently trails Reform UK in the polls, and Starmer faces mounting challenges over public spending and tax policy. Critics have accused the party of hypocrisy for accepting luxury items from donors, further complicating its public image.
Rayner’s Role and Future Prospects
Rayner, once a working-class teenage mother, had played a pivotal role in bridging Labour’s ideological divides. Her ability to connect with both the party’s left and centrist factions gave her broader appeal than Starmer himself.
One Labour MP remarked, “Any resignation is a blow, especially Ange, but she clearly had to go,” adding that Rayner might remain quiet for now but could potentially challenge Starmer in the future.
Rayner had referred herself to the independent adviser earlier in the week after acknowledging her mistake. She explained that she had sold her share of a family home to a trust set up for her son, who has lifelong disabilities, in order to purchase a flat in Hove.
Believing she was exempt from the higher tax rate applied to second homes, she later admitted the error and began steps to repay the owed amount.
Source: Legit.ng
