Rayner second favourite to become PM after Stamp Duty furore over
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner cleared of wrongdoing by HMRC and can now challenge for leader.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is now the second favourite to become the next PM after being cleared of wrongdoing by HMRC over a Stamp Duty bill.
She was the bookies’ favourite until Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to stand aside last night, for Andy Burnham to return to Parliament.
Rayner stood down from the Cabinet in September after admitting newspaper claims that she had underpaid the tax on a new flat.
She declared the flat in Hove, East Sussex, as her main residence even though she also had a family home in Ashton-Under-Lyne near Manchester, where her children live.
The Stamp Duty bill on the flat rose from £30,000 to £70,000, leaving her with a bill for £40,000 to pay.
Obstacle removed
Now, she says HMRC has given her the all-clear, and the bill has been settled. This removes any obstacle to her being a candidate in a Labour party leadership race.
Rayner is second behind odds-on favourite Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer and become the next Prime Minister.
Her odds of replacing Starmer are 4/1, according to Bet365. Burnham is way ahead at 10/11, Wes Streeting is at 6/1 and Ed Miliband 8/1.
Streeting resignation
Wes Streeting announced his resignation as Health Secretary yesterday, to force the issue of a leadership election and replacement for Keir Starmer.
