By Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s political future could be determined within days as Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, prepares to publish his findings into her conduct. The report, expected as early as today, will examine whether Rayner breached the ministerial code in relation to an underpayment of stamp duty on a property purchase.
The Stamp Duty Dispute: Rayner has insisted the mistake arose from flawed legal advice, arguing that her conveyancer and trust advisers failed to take account of the complexities of her case. “I deeply regret the error that has been made,” she said in a statement, adding that she is now working with tax lawyers and HMRC to settle the shortfall.
Disputed Advice
The Kent-based law firm Verrico & Associates, which handled the conveyancing, stated that it did not provide tax advice and only calculated duty “based on the facts and information provided.” Rayner has maintained that she relied on legal professionals, but critics say questions remain over the adequacy of the advice she sought and disclosed.
Emma Rawson, director of public policy at the Association of Taxation Technicians, told BBC Radio 4 that stamp duty is “a very complicated tax” with “quirks and complications,” particularly where trusts and second homes are involved. She stressed that ultimately, “it’s the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure they are getting the right advice.”
Political Fallout
The row has left Keir Starmer’s government under pressure. The prime minister has said he will “act” on Magnus’s conclusions but has repeatedly declined to say whether he would dismiss Rayner if she is found to have broken the code. While he can remove her as housing secretary and deputy prime minister, her position as Labour’s elected deputy leader is beyond his authority.
Trade Minister Douglas Alexander acknowledged public “frustration” over the wait but defended the process, saying Magnus’s inquiries are typically “comprehensive and quick.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called Rayner’s position “untenable,” demanding her resignation and accusing her of misleading the public. “From the start, we’ve had nothing but excuses, deflections and lies. Enough is enough,” she said.
What Comes Next
Downing Street has given no update on the timing of the ethics report, but many at Westminster believe a decision on Rayner’s future is imminent. If she is cleared, Starmer will still face a challenge in justifying her position after weeks of damaging headlines. If she is forced out, questions will turn to who replaces her in government and whether she continues as Labour’s deputy leader.
Political editor Chris Mason described the situation as a “heads it’s awkward, tails it’s awkward” dilemma for the prime minister: “If the report leaves scope for her to stay on, that’s not an easy sell. If she goes, attention will shift to succession and her next move.”
