Angela Rayner has been cleared by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal. The former deputy prime minister has settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty after initially paying the lower rate, but has not paid any penalty as a result of the investigation. HMRC was also satisfied there was no tax avoidance.
In an interview with the Guardian, Rayner said she had been “bruised” by the whole experience because of the intrusion into her disabled son’s personal life, and because it had appeared as though she was “in it for myself” rather than on the side of ordinary people. The investigation has hung heavily over the senior Labour MP since she was forced to resign from the cabinet last September.
Now the investigation has been resolved, the door is open for a return to frontline politics. Rayner indicated she may run in the event of a leadership contest, saying she wanted to “play my part” and that she understood why Labour MPs were so upset following last week’s election crushing. She said Keir Starmer should “reflect on” stepping aside.
With Labour on the brink of civil war, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is preparing to launch a leadership challenge on Thursday if he can secure the support of enough MPs. His move has sparked a scramble on the left of Labour to find a candidate to oppose him, with Ed Miliband and Rayner both possible contenders, while Andy Burnham is unable to run from outside parliament.
Rayner suggested she could enter any leadership contest, should one be triggered, although sources said she was not dead set on being the left’s candidate. “I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change,” she said. Rayner declined to say whether Starmer should fight any challenge, saying: “Keir will have to reflect on that.”
