No 10 Confirms Starmer Was Informed as Rayner Received Legal Advice on Tax Issue, Final Guidance Issued Wednesday
Downing Street has stated that Angela Rayner received definitive legal guidance confirming she had underpaid stamp duty on her Hove property only on Wednesday morning. However, it was also noted that Keir Starmer had been regularly informed about the steps she was taking to resolve the matter.
Reports indicate that Rayner engaged a KC on Friday evening to assess her position regarding the unpaid stamp duty from her property purchase. A preliminary draft opinion was provided to her by Monday evening, but this was not the final assessment, as the KC requested additional details.
During this time, a court order restricted Rayner from publicly discussing a trust established for her disabled son—a factor influencing the stamp duty calculation—though she could consult her legal counsel. The court order was lifted on Tuesday evening.
The final legal advice, received Wednesday morning, confirmed the unpaid stamp duty, prompting Rayner to refer herself to the prime minister's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.
Some have accused Starmer of misleadingly stating that Rayner had acted properly despite being aware of the issue. At the Downing Street briefing, the prime minister’s representative disputed this, declining to specify the details of Monday’s initial legal opinion or when Starmer became aware of the unpaid tax.
The spokesperson stated:
The prime minister was kept informed of the steps taken by the deputy prime minister, as appropriate. Once she received the final legal advice on Wednesday morning, she promptly referred herself to the independent adviser and updated the prime minister at the earliest opportunity.
Starmer faced criticism for claiming on Monday that those targeting Rayner were “wrong,” but the spokesperson clarified that his remarks addressed her past resilience against critics.
Swinney Urges SNP to Pursue Legal Path for Independence Vote
John Swinney intends to address Scottish National Party members advocating a more assertive approach to independence, emphasizing that the Scottish government must follow legal procedures to secure another referendum.
Speaking in Edinburgh, the first minister stated that securing an outright majority in next year’s Holyrood elections is the only legitimate path to a future independence vote.
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