Angela Rayner has been cleared by HM Revenue and Customs of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal, settling £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty without any penalty.
The former deputy prime minister said she had been 'bruised' by the experience, which she described as having 'clipped my wings'. She expressed hurt over the intrusion into her disabled son's personal life and the perception that she was acting in her own interests rather than for ordinary people.
With Labour on the brink of a civil war, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is preparing to launch a leadership challenge on Thursday, sparking a scramble on the left for a candidate to oppose him. Rayner indicated she might enter any contest, saying she wanted to 'play my part'.
Rayner declined to say whether Sir Keir Starmer should fight any challenge but suggested he should 'reflect on' stepping aside. She stressed the need for change and said the pace of reform had not been enough for voters, with mistakes damaging their trust.
She also reiterated that Andy Burnham should not be blocked from returning to parliament, though she said it would not be appropriate to ask northern Labour MPs to stand aside for him. The HMRC investigation had overshadowed her last eight months since resigning from the cabinet in September.
