Angela Rayner has acknowledged that she paid an incorrect amount of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat by the sea, following growing demands for clarity regarding her property dealings.
The deputy prime minister has contacted the prime minister’s ethics advisor after confirming she must settle additional property tax. She stated that she had paid a lower rate for the residence in Hove when it should have been higher. Analysts estimate the unpaid sum could reach £40,000.
The admission could threaten Rayner’s standing, particularly as Labour, currently behind Reform UK in polls, has faced challenges in proving its alignment with working-class voters.
Her position may also invite accusations of double standards, as the government is likely to raise taxes on property owners in the upcoming budget.
In a statement to *CuriosityNews*, Rayner expressed regret over the mistake, explaining that she had initially considered the flat her sole residence, despite primarily living with her children in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
Before purchasing the seaside flat in May 2025, she had transferred her share in her Ashton home into a trust, initially created in 2020 to provide for one of her sons following a difficult medical issue as a premature baby that resulted in lifelong disabilities.
She stated that legal advice at the time indicated the stamp duty rate she paid was correct but later learned the flat could not be classified as her only home due to the trust’s terms.
Tax specialists note that even though she surrendered financial ownership of the Ashton property after her divorce, she may still be considered the owner if she or her children are beneficiaries with lifetime occupancy rights.
Since the Hove flat was an additional property, she should have paid £70,000 in stamp duty instead of £30,000. She is now working with tax authorities to determine the exact amount owed.
The Ashton property remains her primary residence for official and financial purposes, including council tax and voter registration. Her children live there full time, while she and her former husband alternate staying with them.
Rayner told CuriosityNews: “While discussing personal, sometimes difficult family matters publicly is challenging, I have always taken my responsibilities as an MP and deputy prime minister seriously, striving to be as transparent as possible while safeguarding my family.”
“To counter the claims made about me, I’ve decided to clarify the reasons behind my arrangements.”
It emerged earlier this week that Rayner was unable to disclose all details about her property affairs publicly.
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