Angela Rayner has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing over claims she avoided tax on the sale of a home, with the Labour deputy leader criticising what she called the 'desperate tactics' of Conservative MPs who urged police to investigate.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said any allegations that Rayner should have paid capital gains tax or council tax would not fall under their jurisdiction, and that they had shared details of their investigation with Stockport Council and HMRC. Neither body plans to take action, with HMRC confirming there is no capital gains tax liability.
Rayner had said she would resign as deputy leader if she was found to have broken the law. The Conservatives had pressed police to investigate claims she wrongly designated the home as her principal residence. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'obviously pleased', adding he never doubted Rayner had done nothing wrong.
Former chief constable of Durham police Michael Barton criticised politicians for pressuring police into 'fanciful investigations', saying it boiled down to trying to embarrass political rivals. Rayner bought the property for £79,000 in 2007 under right-to-buy, sold it in 2015 for £127,500, and designated it as her main residence, meaning the profit was not liable for capital gains tax.
