Keir Starmer calls tax accusations against Angela Rayner a ‘smear’

Keir Starmer has given a vigorous defense of his challenged deputy, Angela Rayner. This comes after the head of Greater Manchester police expressed that she is being looked into for "a series of claims."

On Wednesday, the leader of the Labour Party informed Members of Parliament that he considered the allegation stating that Rayner falsely claimed her main residence to evade tax payments was a defamatory statement.

Starmer has been trying to stay away from commenting on the controversy for the past few weeks, but he finally addressed the issue during a prime minister's questions session where both party leaders engaged in personal insults.

Starmer gave a response to the comments made by Rishi Sunak suggesting that the Labour leader should examine Rayner's tax records instead of reading Liz Truss's memoir. Starmer stated that there are government officials, such as the prime minister and a peer, who come from wealthy families and have utilized tax avoidance methods resulting in millions of pounds of missed tax revenue. He also criticized these individuals for criticizing a woman from a working-class background.

Starmer made his remarks shortly following Stephen Watson's announcement that Rayner, who is associated with a variety of accusations, is being investigated by Greater Manchester police.

Rayner is facing accusations of violating the Representation of the People Act 1983 for allegedly providing incorrect details regarding her residence to the electoral register. However, legal action must be taken within a 12-month period from the supposed wrongdoing.

People have been questioning whether she paid the right amount of tax when she sold her house in Stockport in 2015 because it's not clear if she lived there all the time. This has to do with the time before she became a Member of Parliament when she was married for five years.

Watson mentioned in an interview with BBC Radio Manchester that he wouldn't share much about the ongoing investigation as it's not their practice to do so. Despite that, he acknowledged that it's a significant topic of discussion.

What I want to stress is that there are several claims circulating out there, which align with what we have made known to the public. It's not news to anyone.

This action is impartial and doesn't suggest that the data is concrete proof for us to act on right now. It's just a matter of having a claim, which is widespread in the news, and our aim is to uncover the truth behind it.

The spokesperson for the Labour party stated that Angela is glad to have the opportunity to present the truth to the police. The party is certain that Angela followed all regulations and protocols and allows the police to continue their investigation.

People who have inside information about Rayner do not know the exact reason for the investigation conducted by the force.

During the show Politics Live aired on Monday, James Daly, the Bury North member of parliament affiliated to the Conservative Party, remarked that the authorities should be permitted to carry out their duties, in response to queries about which unlawful act he assumed Rayner had carried out and about the evidence he had given to the police.

According to Daly, the police in Greater Manchester are examining several different types of crimes and will conduct a comprehensive investigation. We should allow them sufficient time and chance to achieve this.

The Times has reported that a police insider disclosed officers are investigating the council tax situation of Rayner due to allegations that she is not actually residing in her property. The law enforcement agent explained that this investigation has significant resources committed to it, including twelve distinguished detectives, and that this issue is not the sole focus of their inquiry.

On Wednesday, a representative for the police in Greater Manchester stated that they are still investigating and will not provide any additional information until the investigation is finished.

On Friday, Rayner made a promise that she would resign from her position as the deputy leader of the Labour party if she was proven guilty of a crime through a police investigation.

In simpler terms, the individual expressed their willingness to meet with the police and HMRC in order to clear up any misunderstandings and bring an end to the issue at hand. They are certain that they have followed all rules to the best of their ability.

I've always emphasized the significance of honesty and responsibility in politics. Hence, it's crucial to investigate this matter quickly and impartially devoid of any political intervention.