Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned after an investigation found she broke the ministerial code by underpaying property tax. The move is a major setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Rayner, who also stepped down as housing minister and deputy Labour leader, admitted she wrongly paid less stamp duty on a flat purchase. She said she should have sought proper tax advice and took “full responsibility” for the error.
Labour’s ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, said Rayner ignored legal warnings and therefore breached the rules, though he praised her integrity and service. Reports suggest she avoided about £40,000 ($53,000) by misreporting the home purchase.
In his response, Starmer said he was “very sad” to lose her from government but called her “a major figure in our party.” Rayner has long been popular among working-class voters and was seen as a possible future party leader.
Her resignation follows weeks of pressure from critics and the media. Known for her straight-talking style, the 45-year-old rose from humble beginnings in Stockport to one of the highest offices in the country but her political future now hangs in the balance.