UK deputy prime minister admits not paying enough stamp duty on second home – The Irish Times

UK deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on her second home and has considered resigning.

Ms Rayner, also the UK housing secretary, said she has referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.

She said she had received inaccurate tax advice and had spoken to her family about quitting.

The housing secretary has been under intense pressure over her tax affairs after media reports about her purchase of a flat in Hove.

She was reported to have saved £40,000 (€46,000) in stamp duty on the flat because she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, meaning the Hove property is the only property she owns.

She told Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast: “I’ve been in shock, really, because I thought I’d done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and I’m devastated because I’ve always upheld the rules and always have felt proud to do that.

“That it is devastating for me and the fact that the reason why those confidential clauses were in place was to protect my son, who, through no fault of his own, he’s vulnerable, he’s got this life-changing, lifelong conditions and I don’t want him or anything to do with his day-to-day life, to be subjected to that level of scrutiny because it’s his and my ex-husband that is … it’s not fair on them.

“Often my family [are] dragged in because of what my role is and what I do,” she said.

“But I try to uphold the high standards, and that’s why I’ve referred myself so that the independent advice can look at everything.”

Pressed again on whether she had considered standing down, Ms Rayner said she had “spoken to my family about it” and “the number one priority for me and my ex-husband has always been to support our children and do the best thing for our children”. – PA