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 has settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty after initially paying the lower rate, but has not paid any penalty. HMRC was also satisfied there was no tax avoidance.
In an interview with the Guardian, Rayner said she had been 'bruised' by the whole experience due to the intrusion into her disabled son's personal life and the perception that she was 'in it for myself' rather than on the side of ordinary people. The investigation had hung heavily over the senior Labour MP since she resigned from the cabinet last September.
With the investigation now resolved, the door is open for a return to frontline politics. Rayner indicated she may run in the event of a leadership contest, saying she wanted to 'play my part' and understood why Labour MPs were upset following last week's election crushing. She said Keir Starmer should 'reflect on' stepping aside.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is preparing to launch a leadership challenge on Thursday if he can secure enough support. This has sparked a scramble on the left of Labour to find a candidate, with Ed Miliband and Rayner both possible contenders. Rayner suggested she could enter any contest, although sources said she was not dead set on being the left's candidate.
Rayner declined to say whether Starmer should fight any challenge, stating: 'Keir will have to reflect on that.' She added that the pace of change has not been enough for voters and mistakes have blown the party off course. She also stressed that Andy Burnham should not have been prevented from re-entering parliament, but it would not be appropriate for her to ask MPs to stand down for him.
