Angela Rayner settles tax bill with HMRC1 hour agoAdam GoldsmithandBecky Morton,political reporterReutersFormer Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resolved her tax affairs with HMRC following an investigation, settling PS40,000 in unpaid stamp duty.The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne said she had been “exonerated” of the accusation she had “deliberately sought to avoid tax” in a statement on Thursday.Rayner stood down as deputy prime minister and housing secretary in September 2025 after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on her PS800,000 flat in Hove.Rayner is seen as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as he battles to save his premiership following a disastrous set of election results for the Labour Party last week.However, the outstanding HMRC investigation was seen as an obstacle to her standing.In an interview with the Guardian, the prime minister’s former deputy did not rule out running in any Labour leadership race but said she would not “trigger” a contest.She said: “I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes. Rayner, when asked if the prime minister should Rayner told the Guardian that voters were left with the impression In an interview with ITV News journalist Paul Brand she said The email from HMRC to Rayner’s lawyers confirm HMRC has acknowledged that I acted with good faith and “She continued: “I paid every penny I owed I am relieved my family can move on and that I I am relieved that my family can now move on “Angela RaynerLabour Party
