Angela Rayner Says HMRC Cleared Her After £40,000 Stamp Duty Settlement
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 14
Angela Rayner Says HMRC Cleared Her After £40,000 Stamp Duty Settlement
11 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 14
Angela Rayner told the Guardian that HMRC has cleared her over her tax affairs, saying the investigation left her "bruised."
HMRC examined the case after Rayner admitted in September 2025 that she had underpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove; she later settled £40,000 with no penalty.
That admission led Rayner to quit as deputy prime minister, though the prime minister's ethics adviser said she had acted with integrity while still breaching the ministerial code by not seeking further specialist tax advice.
The clearance removes a major obstacle for Rayner as she is viewed as a possible challenger to Keir Starmer, who is under pressure after Labour's heavy local election losses.
With rivals circling, is Rayner's tax clearance the catalyst that will finally topple the current Labour leader?
Does settling a £40,000 tax bill, even without penalty, create a permanent trust issue for a potential leader?