UK Deputy PM Rayner Faces Resignation Calls Over £40k Stamp Duty Underpayment

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner admitted to underpaying stamp duty by approximately £40,000 on her £800,000 seaside flat in Hove, a controversy that has sparked calls for her resignation and intense political scrutiny. Rayner claimed the underpayment resulted from following legal advice related to transferring her constituency home into a trust for her children, but subsequent advice revealed she was still liable for the higher tax rate on second homes. She has referred herself to the Government's independent ethics adviser and HM Revenue and Customs amid accusations of potential tax evasion, which Conservative leaders, including Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, have urged be thoroughly investigated. Despite widespread criticism, including from her own constituents who have called for her resignation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly backed Rayner, emphasizing his support and pride in her role. Supporters argue that Rayner has been treated unfairly and subjected to harsher scrutiny due to her working-class background, contrasting this with more lenient treatment of other politicians facing scandals. The situation remains unresolved as Rayner's political future hangs in the balance pending the outcomes of the ethics and tax investigations.