Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal, paving the way for a potential leadership bid as Keir Starmer’s grip on power unravels. 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 as a result of the investigation. 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 because of the intrusion into her disabled son’s personal life, but also because it had appeared as though she was “in it for myself” rather than on the side of ordinary people. The investigation by HMRC into her tax affairs has hung heavily over the senior Labour MP since she was forced to resign from the cabinet last September. Now it has been resolved, the door is open for a return to frontline politics.
Rayner indicated she may run in the event of a contest, saying she wanted to “play my part” and that she understood why Labour MPs were so upset following last week’s election crushing. She said Starmer should “reflect on” stepping aside. With Labour on the brink of civil war, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is preparing to launch a leadership challenge on Thursday if he and his allies can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest.
His move to force a race has sparked a frantic scramble on the left of Labour to find a candidate to oppose him, with Ed Miliband and Rayner both possible contenders, while Andy Burnham is unable to run from outside parliament. Rayner suggested she could enter any leadership contest, should one be triggered by Streeting on Thursday, although sources have said she was not dead set on being the left’s candidate.
“I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes,” she said when asked. “Whatever role I can play, I will keep pushing and pushing hard because I want the people out there at the moment who are really struggling … to know that I’m putting all my energy into fighting for them.” Rayner did not rule out endorsing a soft left rival if they had a better chance of success in any contest, raising the prospect of potential candidates on her wing of the party agreeing who would represent them.
But Starmer’s former deputy ruled out launching a coup herself. “I’ve made it clear that I wasn’t going to trigger the prime minister – and that I want to see change. I want to see actions, not just words.” Rayner declined to say whether Starmer should fight any leadership challenge, saying that was a matter for the prime minister. When pressed on whether he should step aside, she said: “Keir will have to reflect on that.”
