Angela Rayner has been cleared by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal. The former deputy prime minister settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty after initially paying the lower rate, but paid no penalty. HMRC was satisfied there was no tax avoidance.
In an interview with the Guardian, Rayner said she had been “bruised” by the experience due to intrusion into her disabled son’s personal life and the perception she was “in it for myself” rather than on the side of ordinary people. The investigation had hung heavily over her since she resigned from the cabinet last September.
With the HMRC matter resolved, the door is open for a return to frontline politics. Rayner indicated she may run in any leadership contest, saying she wanted to “play my part” and understood why Labour MPs were upset after last week’s election defeat. She said Keir Starmer should “reflect on” stepping aside.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is preparing to launch a leadership challenge on Thursday, sparking a scramble on the left for a candidate. Ed Miliband and Rayner are possible contenders, while Andy Burnham cannot run from outside parliament. Rayner suggested she could enter the contest but was not dead set on being the left’s candidate.
Rayner ruled out launching a coup herself, stating: “I’ve made it clear that I wasn’t going to trigger the prime minister – and that I want to see change.” She declined to say whether Starmer should fight a challenge, adding: “Keir will have to reflect on that.” She stressed the need for faster change and acknowledged that mistakes had “blown us off course”.
