Angela Rayner Resigns After Ethics probe finds breach of ministerial code
UK-London-Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has resigned from her senior government roles after an ethics investigation found she breached the Ministerial Code.
The inquiry, led by the independent adviser on ministerial interests, Sir Laurie Magnus, concluded that Rayner had failed to uphold the highest standards of conduct after underpaying stamp duty on a property purchase earlier this year.
Rayner, who bought an £800,000 flat in Hove, paid the lower “primary residence” rate instead of the higher surcharge applied to second homes. The underpayment is estimated at around £40,000.
In her resignation letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Rayner expressed “deep regret” for not seeking specialist tax advice, saying she took “full responsibility for this error.” She had previously referred herself to the ethics adviser and HMRC when questions were first raised about the transaction.
“I acted on advice I believed to be correct at the time, but I accept the findings of the investigation and have therefore chosen to resign,” she wrote.
Prime Minister’s Response
Keir Starmer said he was “very sad” to lose his deputy, praising her record on housing reform and renters’ rights. He added that Rayner remained a “trusted colleague and true friend” but acknowledged her decision was the right one in light of the investigation’s conclusions.
Political Impact
Rayner’s departure marks the seventh high-profile resignation from the Labour government since it took office in July 2024. The loss of such a senior figure is a major blow to Starmer, who has repeatedly stressed Labour’s commitment to integrity in public life.
Opponents have already seized on the resignation, accusing Rayner of hypocrisy given her outspoken criticism of Conservative politicians over tax affairs in recent years.
Attention now turns to who will succeed her as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, with names such as Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Pat McFadden, and Darren Jones already circulating in Westminster