UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson refused to back Deputy PM Angela Rayner over unpaid £40k tax, citing an ongoing independent review.
As reported by The Telegraph, Bridget Phillipson refused to back Angela Rayner amid pressure over tax issues.
Ms Rayner faces calls to quit after admitting she failed to pay a £40,000 tax on her seaside holiday home. She self-referred to HMRC and Sir Laurie Magnus, PM Sir Keir Starmer’s independent adviser, after revelations she dodged extra stamp duty.
Bridget Phillipson’s views on calls for Angela Rayner to quit over tax
Bridget Phillipson refrained from commenting on whether her Cabinet colleague Angela Rayner should remain as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary.
During an interview, when asked if Rayner should resign if rules were broken, she said,
“I appreciate the answer I’m about to give will be frustrating, but there is a process, I’m not going to pre-judge. It is right now that the independent adviser does his work and provides that outcome.”
When pressed on whether Ms Rayner should resign, Ms Phillipson stated,
“My view is that we have an independent process and an independent adviser and that’s there for a reason. I’m not going to pre-judge it. I can’t speculate on it because I’m a member of the Government, I have responsibilities too in terms of how I conduct myself.”
The education secretary said,
“I do think it’s right that the independent adviser now looks at all matters on the case, all the facts, and he has the time and whatever else he needs in order to reach his conclusion.”
She avoided questions on Ms Rayner’s future as Housing Secretary amid the unpaid stamp duty controversy.
Ms Phillipson stated,
“As I have set out in terms of the position, Angela Rayner acted in good faith on the basis of advice that she had at the time.”
She said,
“I’ll do my best to set out the timeline for you. Obviously, originally, the Deputy Prime Minister sought advice from the point of purchase on the house, enacted in line with the advice she received. She then subsequently sought expert advice on that.”
The education secretary added,
“That original version returned on Monday, but it wasn’t later clarified until Wednesday, further questions that were addressed through the advice. But what also had to happen is that the Deputy Prime Minister had to seek the permission of the court for an order to be lifted in relation to her family.”
What did Jeremy Corbyn say about Angela Rayner amid the tax row?
Jeremy Corbyn said Angela Rayner could join his new hard-Left party if she were sacked from Labour amid the tax controversy.
Referring to the tax affair, Mr Corbyn stated,
“I’m more worried about housing policy, I’m more worried about overcrowding, I’m more worried about the lack of regulation of the private rented sector.”
He said,
“And it’s sort of a truism of British politics that the whole media story, the whole of Parliament, becomes obsessed with her personal living arrangements and whatever property she owns or doesn’t own and diverts conveniently away from the issue that Parliament should be addressing, which is the hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of good quality housing.”
When asked if Ms Rayner could join his party, Mr Corbyn said she is welcome, noting his party’s membership of 700,000.
Kevin Hollinrake’s stance on calls for Angela Rayner’s resignation
The Conservative Party chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, reiterated his demand for Angela Rayner to step down amid the tax controversy.
He stated Ms Rayner, relying on legal advice, cannot continue as Deputy Prime Minister or Housing Secretary.
Mr Hollinrake backed Kemi Badenoch following criticism that she focused on the Rayner scandal in just two of her six questions at PMQs.
When asked about any mistakes, he said Ms Badenoch straightaway challenged whether the PM had the backbone to sack Ms Rayner.
He added,
“I think Kemi took the decision there are other things on people’s minds, not least the cost of living, taxation going up, unemployment going up… You have the opportunity to interrogate the Prime Minister about the many issues of the day, and that is what she decided to do.”
How did Angela Rayner underpay stamp duty on her seaside flat?
The deputy prime minister admitted she paid less stamp duty than required on her £800,000 Hove flat, following intense scrutiny of her property affairs.
She has referred herself to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on her Hove flat, potentially owing an extra £40,000.
Ms Rayner added,
“I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands. It is for that reason I have today referred myself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, and will provide him with my fullest cooperation and access to all the information he requires.”
What did Keir Starmer say about Angela Rayner amid the stamp duty row?
In an early show of support, Keir Starmer told MPs he was proud to sit alongside Rayner and said her referral to the ethics adviser was the right move.
He said,
“She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. She has gone over and above in setting out the details, including asking the court to lift a confidentiality order in relation to her own son.”
Mr Starmer added,
“I know from speaking at length to the deputy prime minister just how difficult that decision was for her and her family, but she did it. She did it to ensure that all information is in the public domain.”
Key facts about stamp duty tax on houses in the UK
Stamp Duty is a tax on buying property in England and Northern Ireland. First-time buyers pay 0% up to £300,000 and 5% on £300,001–£500,000.
Scotland and Wales have their own property taxes. Extra charges are 3% for second homes and 2% for non-UK buyers. Properties over £500,000 pay the normal rates.