Starmer spokesperson fields questions on PM’s knowledge of Rayner tax affairs

Sir Keir Starmer was kept informed “as appropriate” about the steps Angela Rayner had taken over her tax affairs, a Number 10 spokesperson has said.

Downing Street faced repeated questions from journalists about what the Prime Minister knew about his deputy’s tax affairs and when, after a series of conflicting statements from different figures in Government.

A No 10 spokesman said on Thursday: “The Prime Minister was kept updated on steps that the Deputy Prime Minister has taken, as was appropriate.

“As soon as that final legal opinion was received by the Deputy Prime Minister on Wednesday morning she immediately took steps to self-refer herself to the IA (independent adviser), and she updated the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity as well.”

Asked if Sir Keir believed Ms Rayner had been transparent with him, the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been updated on the steps that the Deputy Prime Minister has taken – you’ve got his words from yesterday in the House when he said she has gone over and above in setting out the details.”

Albert Toth4 September 2025 15:00

Why did Rayner not pay enough tax on her flat?

Ms Rayner referred herself to the ministerial ethics adviser on Wednesday after admitting, following days of silence, that she had wrongly listed her flat.

When purchasing a £800,000 property in Hove in May, she paid the standard rate of stamp duty, estimated to be £30,000. However, the higher rate for second homes would have made this as much as £70,000.

The deputy PM explained: “When purchasing the property, my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty.”

She says she did this because she had sold her stake in her constituency home in Greater Manchester into a trust of which her 17-year-old son, who has lifelong disabilities, is the beneficiary.

However, Ms Rayner was later advised that, despite not owning any other property at the time of the purchase, “complex provisions relating to the trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities”.

Albert Toth4 September 2025 14:44

Reeves names last possible date for Budget as she eyes tax hikes to plug £40bn black hole

Tom Watling4 September 2025 14:29

Rayner spends day with mayors amid intense scrutiny

It is understood Angela Rayner is spending the day meeting regional mayors, including West Yorkshire’s Labour Tracy Brabin and the North East’s Kim McGuinness, at Derbyshire stately home Chatsworth House.

The purpose of the meeting has not been revealed.

Albert Toth4 September 2025 14:14

In pictures: Starmer visits BAE Systems Scotstoun (AFP via Getty Images)(PA)(PA)

Tom Watling4 September 2025 14:07

Reeves says she has ‘full confidence’ in RaynerRachel Reeves insists she has full confidence in Angela Rayner

Tom Watling4 September 2025 13:55

Where did Rayner get the money for her Hove flat?

The deputy PM says she sold her stake in her Greater Manchester family home to her son’s trust in January 2025. This gave her the money to pay the deposit for the Hove flat, which she owns with a mortgage.

The court-instructed trust was set up in 2020 using a payment that was granted after “a deeply personal and distressing incident” involving her son as a premature baby, she says. Now in his late teens, he has life-long disabilities, including blindness.

In a statement, she said: “The trust was established to manage the award on his behalf – a standard practice in circumstances like ours.”

“Some of the interest in our family home was transferred to the trust in 2023.”

She then sold all of her interest in the Ashton-under-Lyne property to this trust in 2025, although it remains her family home. It is Ms Rayner’s son’s trust that now holds equity in the Ashton house.

Albert Toth4 September 2025 13:41

Labour, Conservatives, Reform and Lib Dems to face off in immigration TV debate

Tom Watling4 September 2025 13:24

Rayner’s stamp duty scandal – the questions left to answer

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has disclosed she underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat, claiming she received incorrect legal advice about a complex tax rule.

Here, The Independent breaks down everything you need to know about the issue, the questions are left to answer, and what happens next:

Albert Toth4 September 2025 13:15

Tax expert reveals how much Rayner could be fined

Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, says that if HMRC finds that Ms Rayner was “careless” in her tax dealings, she could face a fine of £12,000.

Speaking to Times Radio, the tax expert explained that the fine in this scenario would be up to 30 per cent of the reported £40,000 she saved.

Alongside referring herself to the ministerial ethics adviser, the deputy prime minister has also contacted HMRC to inform them that she underpaid on stamp duty.

“I’m prepared to pay that and fully comply with the HMRC as well,” she said.

Albert Toth4 September 2025 13:01