Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, stepped down on Friday after an inquiry determined she had violated the ministerial code by underpaying property tax a development seen as a serious setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s already struggling Labour government.
Rayner, a prominent voice for Labour’s left wing, had earlier admitted she had not paid the full amount of tax on a flat purchase and had voluntarily reported herself to the government’s independent ethics adviser.
In a letter to Starmer, ethics watchdog Laurie Magnus stated that Rayner had ignored legal guidance she received and therefore breached the rules. Acknowledging the ruling, Rayner announced her resignation not only as deputy prime minister but also as housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Citing the effect on her family, Rayner expressed regret for not seeking further tax advice and said she accepted “full responsibility” for the mistake.
Responding to her resignation, Starmer said he was “very sad” to lose her from government, but assured her that she would remain an influential figure within Labour.
The controversy came after reports claimed Rayner saved about £40,000 ($53,000) in stamp duty by taking her name off another property deed. She later admitted she had wrongly paid the lower tax rate, which applies only to a primary residence, even though she still had a child under 18 making her ineligible for the exemption.
Magnus, while ruling that she broke the code, praised Rayner for her integrity and longstanding commitment to public service.
At 45, Rayner is widely seen as a potential future Labour leader and has long been a target for Conservative attacks and criticism from right leaning media.
Her life story has also shaped her political appeal: she left school at 16 with no qualifications after becoming a teenage mother, and her direct, working class style resonates with many voters. She grew up in a deprived council estate in Stockport, on the outskirts of Manchester, before rising to national prominence.
