Angela Rayner has faced accusations of wasting public money after her partner, Sam Tarry, was driven by her taxpayer-funded close-protection officers. The officers, who cost thousands of pounds a day, helped Tarry move boxes between their homes in a BMW X5, according to the Mail on Sunday.
The security team, employed to protect the former Deputy Prime Minister, transported Tarry and boxes from Rayner's £800,000 flat in Hove to his £450,000 flat in Brighton, about three miles away. Rayner was not present during the move.
Rayner's spokesman confirmed the officers helped move a small number of possessions, possibly for security reasons. However, the incident has drawn criticism from Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake and the TaxPayers' Alliance, who called for an investigation.
Rayner resigned from the Cabinet last month after breaching the Ministerial Code over stamp duty underpayment. She retains close protection due to security risks, including graffiti targeting her at her Hove property.
