- Angela Rayner resigns after failing to pay correct property tax, breaching ministerial rules
- Ethics adviser says she ignored legal advice, though acted in good faith
- She is praised for her integrity despite stepping down
The United Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, resigned on Friday following the outcome of an ethics investigation that found she violated the ministerial code by not paying the correct amount of property tax on a flat she previously acquired.
Eko Hot Blog reports that her departure marks a major challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour administration, especially as the party navigates increasing pressure both from within and from political opponents.
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Rayner, a key figure among Labour’s left-leaning supporters, acknowledged earlier this week that she may have underpaid tax related to her home purchase and requested an independent review into the matter.
The government’s ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, in a letter to the Prime Minister, concluded that Rayner had not followed legal advice she was given regarding her tax obligations a decision he said amounted to a breach of the ministerial code.
“Although she didn’t act in bad faith, she failed to take appropriate steps despite being advised to do so,” Magnus wrote in his assessment.
He, however, commended her for her conduct throughout her time in office, noting she “showed sincerity and a strong sense of responsibility in her public service.”
Rayner, who had been widely regarded as a potential future leader of the Labour Party, has long drawn both support and criticism for her outspoken and direct style.
Political opponents and right-wing commentators had frequently targeted her in recent months.
Her journey into politics has been widely seen as inspiring. Raised in one of the poorest parts of Stockport, near Manchester, she left secondary school without formal qualifications after becoming a mother at 16.
She later entered politics through trade union activism and quickly rose through Labour’s ranks.
Rayner has remained popular among many working-class voters for her blunt and relatable approach to politics.
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