Rayner resigns from British government, admits mistakes in house purchase

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned from all her posts after admitting to misconduct in a tax matter.

As “deputy leader of the opposition” and “shadow housing secretary,” she was part of the Labour Party's inner circle.

She admitted to the mistake on a Sky News podcast, where she explained that she should have paid higher stamp duty when buying her second home in Hove, East Sussex, but did not.

Standard adviser Laurie Magnus found that she had acted with integrity but described her conduct as a breach of the ministerial code.

Rayner also admitted that the pressure from the media and the public had become unbearable for her family, especially her children. She stated that she had never intended to shirk her duties and regretted not seeking more thorough professional advice.

Rayner's resignation triggered a broader reshuffle of the shadow cabinet. According to Sky News, other prominent members were also dismissed, including House of Commons leader Lucy Powell and Scotland Minister Ian Murray.

Opposition leaders such as Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage sharply criticized Rayner's departure.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer thanked her for her many years of service and described her as a key figure in the Labour Party.

(lup)