Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has admitted she underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex, and referred herself to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser.
She paid £30,000 instead of the £70,000 that would apply if the property was classed as a second home.
The error was based on legal advice at the time regarding her residency status and involvement of a trust holding her former constituency home.
Rayner stated she deeply regretted the mistake and is working cooperatively with HMRC to resolve it, acknowledging that new advice indicates additional liabilities may apply.
The controversy has fuelled criticism over her role as both housing secretary and advocate for stronger tax compliance, especially given calls from Conservatives for an independent investigation.
