A senior Cabinet minister has forcefully rejected mounting demands for an official investigation into Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner's tax affairs, amid explosive revelations about her property dealings.
The controversy centres on Rayner's 2015 house sale in Manchester, where she reportedly utilised services from a wealth protection firm to navigate the transaction. New evidence suggests the Ashton-under-Lyne MP may have benefited from sophisticated financial arrangements typically associated with high-net-worth individuals.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan batted away calls for scrutiny during a tense television appearance, insisting the matter was closed despite fresh questions about whether Rayner properly declared her main residence for capital gains tax purposes.
Key developments include:
- Revelations that Rayner employed a wealth management firm for her property sale
- Growing Conservative demands for HMRC to investigate potential tax avoidance
- Labour's insistence that Rayner followed all legal requirements
- Questions about whether the deputy leader correctly nominated her primary residence
Political opponents have seized upon the emerging details, accusing Rayner of hypocrisy given Labour's frequent criticisms of tax avoidance schemes used by wealthy individuals. The timing proves particularly awkward as Labour maintains consistent leads in opinion polls ahead of the next general election.
Rayner, who has risen from care worker to one of Westminster's most prominent figures, has previously defended her property dealings as entirely proper. However, the emergence of her use of specialised financial services has intensified scrutiny of her personal finances.
The ongoing saga represents the first significant ethical challenge for Labour's deputy leader since assuming her prominent role. How she navigates these allegations could prove crucial to both her political future and Labour's electoral prospects.
