The Conservative Party is calling for an investigation into Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner over allegations she avoided paying higher stamp duty on a property purchase, potentially saving £40,000 in taxes.
In a letter sent on Friday evening, Tory Party Chair, Kevin Hollinrake asked Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s independent ethics adviser, to determine whether Rayner breached the ministerial code by failing to be transparent about her tax arrangements.
The call follows a reports claiming Rayner declared a newly purchased flat in Hove, East Sussex, as her main residence, enabling her to pay lower stamp duty. Had it been classed as a second home, a higher rate of tax around £70,000 would have applied.
Rayner has previously said her main home is in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, which she shared with her family. After her divorce, she removed her name from the property deeds, a move that some now argue helped her avoid the higher property tax rate on the Hove purchase. She also occupies a government-provided apartment in London as part of her ministerial role.
In the letter, Hollinrake wrote: “I believe the ministerial code has been breached, and her tax affairs are not in good order. This directly engages her conduct as a minister.”
The Conservatives are also questioning whether public funds are being properly used, after it emerged that the Cabinet Office covers council tax on Rayner’s London accommodation. They have written to Tameside Council, urging them to remove her from the local electoral roll on the grounds she no longer resides there.
A spokesperson for Rayner told the BBC that she had “paid the relevant duty owing on the purchase of the Hove property in line with relevant requirements and entirely properly.” They dismissed claims of wrongdoing as entirely without basis.
Rayner therefore serves as Housing Secretary under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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