UK Politics

The debate over former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s tax arrangements demonstrated that there are few topics more complex than the law of trusts. It was politically awkward, to say the least, when a deputy PM and housing secretary had to admit getting it wrong and underpaying £40,000 in stamp duty.Rayner has resigned after being found to have breached the ministerial code in the wake of the stamp duty row. That erupted after she was said to have put her share of her constituency home in Greater Manchester in trust for her son, and to have bought another home in Hove, East Sussex, paying a lower rate of stamp duty than should be owed by a second homeowner.In Rayner’s case, a probable oversight and a trust created with legitimate intentions got caught up in legislation designed to discourage tax avoidance and ownership of a second home. Of course, it also left her open to accusations of hypocrisy, as a member of a government that championed higher taxes for second homeowners.Earlier in the week, Rayner had said she took legal advice on the purchase. But her conveyancers then claimed not to have advised her on any additional tax liabilities that might have arisen due to the existence of a trust for her child.So what is a trust – and why are they controversial for tax purposes?Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner More

Angela Rayner resigns after report reveals she broke ministerial code on stamp dutyHome secretary Yvette Cooper is reportedly set to lose her job as Sir Keir Starmer embarks on a major cabinet reshuffle followingAngela Rayner stepping down as deputy prime minister after an investigation into her tax affairs.Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray have already been sacked this afternoon, while Ms Cooper could be moved from the Home Office and become foreign secretary, The Telegraph reported. The prime minister’s reshuffle comes after Ms Rayner stepped down after ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found that she had breached the ministerial code over her underpayment of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex.She told the prime minister in a letter that “I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice” and took “full responsibility for this error”.In a letter responding to her resignation, the prime minister said he was “very sad” that her time in government had come to an end and that he had “nothing but admiration” for her.Yvette Cooper ‘to be sacked from Home Office’Yvette Cooper is set to be sacked from her job as home secretary, according to reports.Sir Keir Starmer has embarked upon a major reshuffle after Angela Rayner stepped down as deputy prime minister following an investigation into her tax affairs.The Telegraph is reporting that Ms Cooper could be moved to foreign secretary.There is speculation that justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, is in prime position to take Ms Cooper’s job at the Home Office.Joe Middleton5 September 2025 15:47Watch: Andrea Jenkyns belts out own song in bizarre Reform conference entranceAndrea Jenkyns belts out own song in bizarre Reform conference entranceJoe Middleton5 September 2025 15:38Starmer cabinet reshuffle: Who is in and who is out as PM overhauls his top teamThe Independent’s Archie Mitchell reportsSir Keir Starmer has launched a major cabinet reshuffle after Angela Rayner’s resignation as housing secretary and deputy prime minister.The prime minister is seeking to relaunch his government as it lags behind Reform UK in the polls and struggles to deliver on key promises.Ms Rayner resigned after Sir Keir’s ethics advisor concluded she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on the purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove.Joe Middleton5 September 2025 15:20Scottish secretary Ian Murray sacked by StarmerIan Murray has been sacked as Scottish Secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle, sources said.Mr Murray has represented Edinburgh South since 2010 – and was the only Scottish Labour MP left in Westminster after the party’s 2019 general election defeat.A critic of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Murray has campaigned against Scottish independence and won the backing of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown during an unsuccessful bid for the Labour deputy leadership in 2020.In a statement on X he said it was a “privilege” to play a role in bringing Labour back to power.Joe Middleton5 September 2025 15:12Lucy Powell said it was an ‘an honour’ to serve in government and confirms sackingLucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, has said it has been “an honour to serve in the first Labour Government in 15 years” as the Manchester Central MP confirmed she had been sacked in a post on X.In a statement she said: “I spoke to the Prime Minister earlier today and he informed me of his intention to appoint a new Leader of the House of Commons.”It has been an honour to serve in the first Labour Government in 15 years, particularly as Leader of the House. It’s been a role I’ve really enjoyed – overseeing the first Labour King’s Speech in a generation with such an ambitious and transformative legislative programme, taking on vested interests in the service of ordinary people.”I’ve also had a big agenda of modernising the Commons – I’ve tightened the rules on MPs’ second jobs – with more to come, standing up for the different voices in the House, family-friendly measures and have been embarking on improved accessibility and inclusion. These are the changes a Labour Government can and should be making.”This has not been an easy time for the Government. People want to see change and improvements to their difficult lives. Nor in politics more generally, not least with the rise of abuse, misrepresentation, social media echo chambers and the call for easy answers. As women in public life, we experience this all the more. The future of our democracy looks uncertain and Parliament and representational politics has an important role to play.”Living and raising my children in my home city of Manchester has always given me a different perspective of politics. My first job has always been to represent the residents of Manchester Central, and I look forward to using my voice and my role on in Parliament to ensure they see the change they long for.”Joe Middleton5 September 2025 14:58Nigel Farage football shirts on sale at Reform conference as supporters gather in BirminghamThe shirts, which are flying off the shelves, are being sold for £40 – or particularly keen activists can buy two for £75.For those who wanted something cheaper there were £15 caps or football terrace themed scarves to cheer on their top team.Joe Middleton5 September 2025 14:45’Mixed feelings’ in Hove around Rayner’s resignation Locals gathered outside Angela Rayner’s seaside flat in Hove discussed “mixed feelings” about the outgoing deputy prime minister.“She was very busy and when you are busy you don’t always use common sense,” said Ann, who is from Australia but lives in the UK.The group echoed that it was a “shame” but agreed with Ann that “£40,000 is an awful lot of money for some people”.( More

Sir Keir Starmer has launched a major cabinet reshuffle after Angela Rayner’s resignation as housing secretary and deputy prime minister. The prime minister is seeking to relaunch his government as it lags behind Reform UK in the polls and struggles to deliver on key promises.Ms Rayner resigned after Sir Keir’s ethics advisor concluded she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on the purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove. Sir Keir Starmer is reshuffling his top team after the departure of Angela Rayner More

Angela Rayner’s resignation shows this government is “as bad – if not worse – than the one that went before”, Nigel Farage has told the Reform UK party conference in his main address. Ms Rayner sensationally quit as deputy prime minister and housing secretary just one hour before Mr Farage took to the stage after an investigation into her tax affairs over her purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex.Capitalising on the chaos within government, the Reform UK leader told the Birmingham crowd the scandal “screams entitlement”.Nigel Farage brought forward his keynote speech at Reform UK’s party conference after Rayner’s resignation More

Reform UK members and party activists are queuing up at this year’s conference to purchase party branded football shirts, emblazoned with the names of MPs and key party figures. The shirts, which are flying off the shelves, are being sold for £40 – or particularly keen activists can buy two for £75. For those who wanted something cheaper there were £15 caps or football terrace themed scarves to cheer on their top team.Football style Reform scarf on sale More

Angela Rayner has resigned from government after it emerged that she underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat, breaching the ministerial code.Ms Rayner’s admission followed mounting pressure and media reports alleging she saved £40,000 on the property in Hove, East Sussex, by removing her name from the deeds of a family home in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.Her resignation follows the findings of ministerial ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, to whom she referred herself on Wednesday.Sir Laurie Magnus said the outgoing deputy prime minister had “acted with integrity”, but failed to “heed the caution” contained within legal advice she received when buying the £800,000 property in Hove.In her resignation letter, the former deputy PM wrote: “I have long believed that people who serve the British public in government must always observe the highest standards.“While the Independent Adviser has concluded that I acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout, I accept that I did not meet the highest standards in relation to my recent property purchase.”Here, The Independent explains the issue and how it led to the resignation of one of the top figures in British politics:What are the rules around stamp duty?For those buying their first home, or moving from one to another, stamp duty is usually quite straightforward. There are several rates liable on the purchase, ranging from zero to 12 per cent, based on its value. Rayner’s political career hangs in the balance More

Angela Rayner has resigned as both deputy prime minister and housing secretary after an investigation into unpaid stamp duty on her new Hove flat.Ms Rayner said this week she had received incorrect advice on the purchase of the property, leading to her paying less land tax than she should have, and referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards.On Friday, Sir Laurie returned his verdict, saying she fell short of the expected standards.Below is Ms Rayner’s resignation letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in full:“Dear Keir,“Thank you for the personal and public support you have shown me in recent days. As you know, on Wednesday I referred myself to your Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, to conduct a thorough investigation into my personal financial circumstances after I became aware that it is likely I inadvertently paid the incorrect rate for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).Angela Rayner has resigned over unpaid stamp duty More

Angela Rayner has resigned after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on the purchase of her £800,000 seaside flat. The deputy prime minister, who on Wednesday referred herself to Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser, insisted she made a mistake based on the advice she received at the time. And, after receiving the report’s conclusion, Ms Rayner has the has quit her roles as housing secretary and deputy prime minister, as well as her role as deputy leader of the Labour Party.Her resignation puts Sir Keir in an extremely difficult position and is a major headache for the prime minister. But who are the likely candidates to replace her? Angela Rayner is under growing pressure to resign after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty of her Hove flat More