Labour’s Angela Rayner Continues to Face Scrutiny Over Tax Affairs

Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, is under renewed scrutiny regarding her tax affairs, with shadow foreign secretary David Lammy coming to her defense amidst fresh allegations.

The focus is on Rayner’s former living arrangements, particularly around the sale of a council house in Stockport that she previously owned, where questions have been raised about potential tax avoidance.

The latest claims suggest that social media posts from 2010 to 2015 indicate Rayner may not have correctly declared her primary residence during the sale of the property.

David Lammy, in a recent interview with Sky News, dismissed the allegations, stating that Rayner’s situation reflects that of many families with blended living arrangements and that she has not violated any rules.

Responding to calls for the publication of her tax returns, Lammy highlighted differences in expectations for a sitting prime minister like Rishi Sunak compared to Rayner, who is not currently in government.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives, represented by James Daly, are pushing for a transparent investigation into Rayner’s tax affairs, urging Labour leader Keir Starmer to address the issue head-on.

In the midst of these developments, Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC raised questions about the political motivations behind the focus on Rayner, suggesting that it could be a tactic to divert attention from more pressing national issues.