Westminster is gripped by a dual crisis as Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner battles allegations of tax avoidance while the government faces internal collapse over immigration policy disagreements.
Rayner's Property Controversy Deepens
Fresh scrutiny surrounds Angela Rayner's 2015 property sale, where she sold her former council house in Vicarage Road, Stockport for £127,500. Questions have emerged about whether she properly paid capital gains tax on the profit, given she had declared another property as her main residence.
Former neighbour John Watkinson has provided compelling testimony, stating Rayner was "never present" at the property she claimed as her primary address. This evidence directly contradicts her official declarations and suggests she may have avoided approximately £1,500 in capital gains tax.
Mounting Political Pressure
Conservative MPs are demanding immediate action, with Jonathan Gullis stating: "If she has nothing to hide, why not publish the tax advice she claims exonerates her?" The pressure intensified as Labour leader Keir Starmer faced questions about his deputy's judgment during Prime Minister's Questions.
Rayner maintains her innocence, insisting she followed all rules and regulations. However, her refusal to publish legal advice supporting her position has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Government in Disarray
While Rayner faces her challenges, the Conservative government is experiencing its own turmoil. Deep divisions have emerged over immigration policy, particularly regarding the treatment of asylum seekers arriving from Ireland.
Home Secretary James Cleverly's announcement that the UK would not accept returns of asylum seekers from Ireland has sparked a cabinet rebellion. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and other senior ministers have expressed serious concerns about this policy reversal.
Political Implications
The simultaneous crises affecting both government and opposition create unprecedented political instability. With a general election approaching, both major parties appear vulnerable to accusations of incompetence and internal division.
As investigations into Rayner's tax affairs continue and government ministers openly rebel against official policy, Westminster faces one of its most volatile periods in recent memory.
