ANGELA Rayner was “right” to resign as deputy prime minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party following a row about her tax affairs, Anas Sarwar has said.
The Scottish Labour leader said that while it was “very, very sad” to see Rayner – who also resigned as housing secretary – leave the UK Government, it was the correct course of action.
Rayner admitted to having underpaid stamp duty on a new home in Hove due to a complex situation where her home in Greater Manchester, which had been extensively adapted to accommodate her disabled son, had been placed into a trust for his benefit.
Speaking to media in Glasgow on Friday, Sarwar said: “Angela Rayner is a friend of mine, a political ally of mine, someone that I hold very dearly, so obviously very, very sad to see the situation that we've ended up in.
“She's ultimately done the right thing. I think even from [independent ethics adviser] Sir Laurie Magnus's findings, you can see that he believes she always acted with the integrity and commitment, and someone that has a proud record actually, having delivered the new deal for working people, a real new policy drive around the homes we need for the future.
“So this will be, obviously, a very sad moment for everyone across the Labour family.”
Rayner’s exit marks the third minister the UK Labour Government has lost in the space of one month.
Rushanara Ali quit as homelessness minister in August after reports that she had evicted tenants from a property before hiking rent by £700 a month.
Investment minister Poppy Gustafsson also resigned on Friday less than a year into the job.
Asked how “chaos” in the UK Government would affect Labour’s chances at the Holyrood elections in 2026, Sarwar said: “I think when it comes to the election next year, the choice is going to be a simple one.
“It's going to be a third decade of managed decline under the SNP, or a new direction with a Scottish Labour government and me as first minister, that's the choice for next year.
“But in terms of today, obviously, what's happened today is the outcome that is one that's unfortunate, but ultimately Angela has done the right thing.”
Rayner’s exit also means that Labour has a vacant deputy leader position. Ordinarily, the role is elected by party members, but reports have suggested that Starmer may instead look to make an appointment.
Asked if he wanted to see a membership ballot to fill the role, Sarwar said: “Look, for all those things, I was elected in a membership election and our current deputy leader in Scotland was elected in a membership election. Keir and Angela were elected in membership elections.
“But ultimately, it's a matter for the NEC [national executive committee], but I think there has to be a certain element of democracy, of course.”
Rayner’s resignation sparked a reshuffle in Keir Starmer’s government, with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray one of the first to be shown the door.
