Angela Rayner is a “great story of British success”, Sir Keir Starmer has said as he defended his deputy against criticism of her tax affairs.
In an interview with the BBC’s Matt Chorley, the Prime Minister said it was a “mistake” for people to brief against or talk down Ms Rayner amid headlines about her purchase of a flat in Hove.
Describing her appointment as Deputy Prime Minister as “an incredible achievement”, Sir Keir said: “Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister.”
Adding that the country should be “proud” of Ms Rayner, he said: “What a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.”
Sir Keir’s backing for Ms Rayner comes amid continued criticism of her purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove, with the Conservatives calling for her to face an ethics inquiry over her tax affairs relating to the purchase.
Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, is reported to have saved £40,000 in stamp duty on the flat because she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, meaning the Hove property is the only property she owns.
However, Ms Rayner also previously indicated the Greater Manchester home remains her primary residence, according to the Telegraph, saving some £2,000 in council tax on her grace and favour home in central London at Admiralty House.
The Mail On Sunday reported she split the ownership of her £650,000 constituency home with a trust administered by law firm Shoosmiths.
The newspaper suggested the legal manoeuvre would be consistent with Ms Rayner placing some of the house’s equity in trust for her three children, but the Tories questioned whether the move was intended to avoid potential inheritance tax liabilities.
Allies of Ms Rayner rejected the suggestion the move had anything to do with inheritance tax.
Ms Rayner divorced her husband and no longer owns a stake in the Greater Manchester home but still considers it her primary residence because her children live there.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP was a teenage single mother who left school with no qualifications and later became a council care worker.
Asked if Ms Rayner had been the victim of a briefing war, Sir Keir said: “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again.
“It’s a mistake.”
The Tories have called for the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to examine whether she has breached the ministerial code.
Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said Ms Rayner should “come clean on the litany of accusations of tax avoidance, be it stamp duty, council tax or inheritance tax”.
He had originally called for Sir Laurie to investigate after it was reported Ms Rayner paid £30,000 stamp duty instead of £70,000 on the Hove property because it was the only one she owned, but then said the independent adviser on ministerial standards should also look at the Ashton-under-Lyne trust.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I think people would appreciate clarity from Angela Rayner.
“I don’t know the details of the house purchases, but the reason why people are asking, as they have been in my constituency, is that they’re worried about hypocrisy.”
Before the 2024 election, the Conservatives had urged HMRC to investigate Ms Rayner over whether she had paid enough tax after selling her former council home almost a decade earlier.
But it is understood that HMRC looked into the matter at Ms Rayner’s request and concluded there was no capital gains tax liability.
Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Sir Keir retained full confidence in Ms Rayner.
The spokesman added: “There is a court order which restricts her from providing further information, which she’s urgently working on rectifying in the interests of public transparency.”
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