Angela Rayner, the Deputy Labour Leader, is facing a devastating backlash from the very people she was elected to represent. Constituents in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat have turned on her, with many demanding her immediate resignation in the wake of the ongoing stamp duty scandal.
In a series of furious confrontations captured by journalists, local residents did not hold back. One constituent was filmed branding the situation a "disgrace," while another accused her of being "as bad as the rest of them." The anger stems from allegations that Rayner may have avoided paying the correct stamp duty on a property deal and potentially breached electoral law over her declared main residence a decade ago.
A Betrayal of Trust in Ashton-under-Lyne
The mood on the streets of the Greater Manchester town is one of palpable disappointment and fury. For many, the scandal strikes at the heart of trust in their elected representative. "If you can't trust an MP, who can you trust?" one lifelong Labour voter lamented, capturing the sentiment of a community feeling let down.
Rayner, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, was confronted directly by a former supporter who told her she should "do the honourable thing" and step down. This direct call for resignation from within her own political base marks a significant escalation in the pressure she is facing.
Political Survival and the Court of Public Opinion
Despite the local outcry, Rayner has received backing from senior Labour figures, including leader Keir Starmer. However, this support from Westminster is doing little to quell the anger in her constituency. The scandal has forced Rayner onto the defensive, having to answer tough questions not from political opponents, but from the people she shops and lives alongside.
The controversy centres on the sale of her former council house in Vicarage Road, Stockport, in 2015. Questions persist over whether she should have paid stamp duty on the sale and whether it was truly her principal residence, as she claims on the electoral roll.
As police continue to assess evidence to determine if a full investigation is warranted, the damage to Rayner's reputation among her constituents may already be done. The row threatens to overshadow her political career and undermines her credibility with a public increasingly weary of political scandals.
