UK Deputy Prime Minister Resigns Amid Tax Error Controversy
UK Deputy Prime Minister Resigns Amid Tax Error Controversy
Angela Rayner, the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, has resigned from her position following an independent inquiry that found she failed to meet the standards expected of government ministers regarding a tax error on a recent house purchase. The resignation, tendered on Friday, comes after Rayner acknowledged on Wednesday that she underpaid tax on an apartment in Hove, England.
In her resignation letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Rayner stated, “I take full responsibility for this error,” while emphasizing her intent was always to pay the correct amount. Starmer expressed sadness but supported her decision, acknowledging her integrity and dedication despite the breach of the ministers’ code of conduct.
The inquiry, led by independent adviser Laurie Magnus, concluded that while Rayner acted with integrity, she regrettably breached the code. Reports suggest Rayner may have saved around £40,000 (nearly $54,000) by not paying the appropriate stamp duty on her £800,000 ($1 million) property. Rayner attributed her complex living arrangements, stemming from her 2023 divorce and her son’s disabilities, as factors in the oversight.
Rayner, a prominent figure known for her journey from a teenage single mother to a senior political leader, will remain a UK lawmaker. Her departure as Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party necessitates a new selection process for the latter role. Prime Minister Starmer is reportedly undertaking a Cabinet shuffle in the wake of her resignation, hoping to move past days of intense media scrutiny and address a recent decline in Labour government support since its July 2024 election victory.
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