Police investigate Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner over council house sale
The photo was obtained from PA Media.
An inquiry has been launched by the Greater Manchester Police regarding the conduct of Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, in relation to the sale of her former council house.
She's facing allegations of violating the rules of election by providing inaccurate details regarding her primary dwelling.
Ms Rayner rejects these claims, and Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, confidently affirms that she followed all the regulations.
A report has been opened by the police following a grievance submitted by James Daly, who is the Tory deputy chairperson.
The police representative stated that they are looking into the possibility of any lawbreaking. This follows a review of the details given to them by Mr. Daly.
It is believed that Mr Daly, who represents Bury North in Parliament, informed the police that some of Ms Rayner's neighbors have contradicted her claim that another property, not belonging to her husband, is her primary residence.
When Mr. Daly raised concerns that police had not examined the voter list and other documents, they initially stated that no investigation would be conducted.
Sir Keir stated that Ms Rayner has already provided numerous responses regarding this issue and that she will work together with the authorities.
He stated: "We are glad about this investigation as it will provide a clear conclusion to this issue."
I am completely sure that Angela Rayner did not violate any regulations.
It is anticipated that she will collaborate with the inquiry, as is customary, and ultimately, the police will handle the matter.
When asked whether she would continue campaigning in the upcoming weeks, he responded affirmatively. Furthermore, he stated that it was essential to allow the police to perform their duty without any interference.
Ms Rayner, previously known as Bowen, purchased the semi-detached house back in 2007. She received a discount of 25% due to the Right to Buy scheme that was brought about by the former Prime Minister of the Conservative Party, Margaret Thatcher.
It is reported that the person who used to take care of the house made a profit of £48,500 after selling it after eight years.
According to tax specialists, it's possible that Ms Rayner didn't owe any Capital Gains Tax when she sold her property, depending on her residency status. However, there are situations where she may have had to pay up to £3,500 to HM Revenue and Customs.
The head of the Labour Party has expressed his approval of the police inquiry regarding the actions of his second-in-command when it comes to the property transaction.
The Member of Parliament, who also serves as the shadow housing secretary for the Labour Party, had Vicarage Road in Stockport, situated in Greater Manchester, listed as their place of residence on the electoral roll. However, they no longer own the property after selling it in 2015.
However, it seems that she provided different addresses while re-registering the births of her two children in 2010 after tying the knot with Mark Rayner.
According to information published in the Mail on Sunday, her spouse was recorded as residing at Lowndes Lane, which is another location listed.
The accusations came about from statements made in a publication authored by Lord Ashcroft, who was previously a deputy chairman in the Conservative Party. Mr. Daly then brought the alleged problems to the attention of the authorities by reporting them to the police.
Mr. Daly expressed worry that Ms. Rayner might have to pay Capital Gains Tax for selling her property, because legally married couples are only allowed to have one primary home.
Ms. Rayner stated that she cannot be held responsible for the damages since it happened in her personal residence, which is the sole property that she owns. She clarified that her previous spouse already possesses a home of his own individually, which further supports her claim.
There is a claim that when Ms Rayner and her ex-spouse sold their properties after tying the knot, it could have been impermissible for them to have evaded the payment of Capital Gains Tax.
Ms Rayner claims to have consulted with tax experts and is of the view that there is no Capital Gains Tax to be paid. Despite being urged to do so, she has declined to share the advice she received.
Earlier this week, Sir Keir was asked if he had laid his eyes on Ms Rayner's tax guidance. He replied that it wasn't necessary for him to take a look at the legal advice as his team has already gone through it.
Grant Shapps, the Secretary of Defence, expressed his approval of the police revisiting the matter.
The member of parliament who supports conservative ideals stated that there is an extreme case of hypocrisy. He pointed out that Angela Rayner, a political figure, has made a career out of criticizing others for actions that she is now guilty of.
You cannot simply disregard it, and it is not permissible for Keir Starmer to claim that he won't even peruse reports pertaining to this matter.
This is a matter of great significance and needs to be thoroughly investigated. I strongly support the notion that law enforcement is taking action to address it.
