The spotlight is back on Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, following claims that she may have avoided paying £40,000 in stamp duty on a seaside flat by listing it as her primary residence to tax authorities.
The controversy has stirred debate across social media, political circles, and TV pundits, with questions about propriety, legality, and political optics.
Kirstie Allsopp Calls Out Government Hypocrisy
TV housing expert Kirstie Allsopp, best known for presenting Location, Location, Location, didn’t hold back.
She tweeted her frustration, pointing to what she sees as a double standard: “Oh look, no one saw this coming!!! Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty — This Government have NO shame, they imposed taxes on the rest of us but find ways not to pay them themselves.”
Government Ministers Defend Rayner
Not everyone agrees with the criticism. Government minister Stephen Kinnock defended Rayner, insisting she acted “fully within the law.”
Speaking to LBC, Kinnock emphasized that the Deputy Prime Minister “has done absolutely nothing wrong” and suggested that some newspapers are overly eager to dig up stories.
Pressed on whether the situation could appear questionable, Kinnock maintained, “She has complied with the letter of the law, and that is the situation as we find it today.”
The Details of the Property Moves
The claims stem from The Mail on Sunday’s reporting that Rayner purchased an £800,000 apartment in Hove while keeping her Greater Manchester property separate.
The Deputy Prime Minister reportedly removed her name from the deeds of her Manchester home just weeks before buying the coastal flat.
Sources suggest this maneuver allowed her to pay £30,000 in stamp duty instead of the £70,000 that would have been applied if the flat was considered a second home.
Rayner also informed Brighton and Hove council that the property would be classified as a second home for council tax purposes.
Angela Rayner’s Response
Rayner’s office pushed back against any notion of wrongdoing.
A spokesperson told The Telegraph: “The Deputy Prime Minister paid the correct duty owed on the purchase, entirely properly and in line with all relevant requirements.
Any suggestion otherwise is entirely without basis.”
Sources close to Rayner emphasized that she followed longstanding rules, paid the necessary taxes, and has never owned a London property, highlighting that her work requires her to live in multiple locations.
Rayner’s Political Journey
Angela Rayner’s path from care worker and trade union representative to Deputy Prime Minister is remarkable.
Leaving school at 16 while pregnant, she later studied care work and sign language while raising her young son.
Elected to Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015, she rose rapidly through party ranks, becoming shadow education secretary in 2016, deputy Labour leader in 2020, and Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary following Labour’s recent election win.
Throughout her career, she has championed free tuition and national education policies, building a reputation as a committed advocate for social mobility and education.
The Wider Debate
While Rayner’s actions are legal, critics argue they highlight tensions between government officials’ personal affairs and the policies they oversee.
Her department has been actively cracking down on second-home owners, making the timing of the property purchase a potential flashpoint for political debate.
The story continues to develop, and the Daily Mail will provide updates as more information emerges about the Deputy Prime Minister’s property arrangements and public response.
