Labour has thrown its support behind deputy leader Angela Rayner after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) concluded its investigation into her past council house sale, finding no criminal offences. The force referred the matter to HMRC and Stockport Council over tax and council tax concerns, but both bodies confirmed no further action would be taken.
The row erupted after an unauthorised biography by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft questioned Ms Rayner’s living arrangements. She had bought her former council house in Vicarage Road, Stockport under the right-to-buy scheme in 2007, selling it in 2015 for a £48,500 profit after her marriage. Questions centred on whether she owed capital gains tax (CGT) and whether she was correctly registered to vote.
Ms Rayner initially said she did not pay CGT as the property was her main home, but married couples can typically only nominate one main home. She later took expert advice and was told she owed no tax. HMRC confirmed she owed nothing, and Stockport Council also declined to pursue police action over the voter registration issue.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stood by Ms Rayner throughout the investigation. She welcomed the outcome and accused the Conservative Party of “desperate tactics” to distract from their record. The police probe had been prompted by a complaint from Conservative deputy chairman James Daly, who later said he did not want to discuss the allegations publicly.
