Conservative backbenchers were left seething with disappointment on Wednesday after Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch failed to land a decisive blow on Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and leader Keir Starmer regarding their personal tax affairs.
The highly anticipated clash at Prime Minister's Questions saw Badenoch, standing in for Rishi Sunak, attempt to put the Labour leaders on the defensive. She challenged them to "come clean" and publish their tax details, a move intended to mirror the transparency recently shown by Prime Minister Sunak.
However, the attack failed to gain traction. Instead of being put on the spot, Sir Keir Starmer swiftly deflected, using his allotted questions to pivot towards criticising the government's handling of the economy and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He made no direct reference to the tax challenge, leaving Badenoch's remarks hanging.
The outcome has sparked anger within Tory ranks. Many MPs viewed the session as a critical opportunity to pressure Labour over what they call a "glaring double standard" on financial transparency. One frustrated backbencher was overheard lamenting the missed chance, calling it a "complete open goal."
The controversy stems from ongoing questions about Angela Rayner's past financial arrangements, including the sale of a former council house. Conservatives have accused her of avoiding capital gains tax, a claim she vehemently denies. By publishing his own summary, the Prime Minister sought to increase the pressure on his opponents to follow suit.
Yet, today's exchange in the Commons suggests that Labour has no intention of engaging on this specific battlefield. Sir Keir's strategic avoidance of the topic has effectively neutralised the Tory offensive, for now, turning the spotlight back onto the government's own record.
