Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC over tax affairs paving the way for potential leadership bid

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal, paving the way for a potential leadership bid as Keir Starmer’s grip on power unravels.

The former deputy prime minister has settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty after initially paying the lower rate, but has not paid any penalty as a result of the investigation. HMRC was also satisfied there was no tax avoidance.

In an interview with the Guardian, Rayner said she had been “bruised” by the whole experience because of the intrusion into her disabled son’s personal life, but also because it had appeared as though she was “in it for myself” rather than on the side of ordinary people.
...
Rayner suggested she could enter any leadership contest, should one be triggered by Streeting on Thursday, although sources have said she was not dead set on being the left’s candidate.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/14/angela-rayner-cleared-hmrc-tax-affairs-labour-leadership-starmer

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See https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143664368 - Health Secretary Wes Streeting's supporters says he will challenge Keir Starmer for leading Labour (and thus being Prime Minister) today. Rayner resigned as Deputy PM because of her tax problem, and this "all cleared up now - no tax avoidance" comes just in time to oppose Streeting.

If you want the tax details:

Rayner stood down as deputy prime minister and Labour's deputy leader in September 2025, after it was revealed that she underpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

Due to complex arrangements surrounding a trust for her disabled son, the flat should have been considered to be Rayner's second home. This meant she owed an additional £40,000 in stamp duty.

Following the scrutiny around her tax affairs, Rayner said last autumn she sought advice from a senior lawyer and admitted that she should have paid the higher rate on the home.

She then referred herself to the prime minister's ethics adviser, who concluded that Rayner "acted with integrity" but had breached the ministerial code.

The adviser also said she did get legal advice when buying the property, but failed to seek further expert tax advice as recommended.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy21gpr1kzt?post=asset%3A476305dc-c41d-48c9-8eb1-77308aa9b64f#post

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Wes Streeting resigns as Health Secretary

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/14/angela-rayner-says-starmer-should-reflect-on-stepping-aside-after-hmrc-clears-her-over-tax-affairs-uk-politics-live?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6a05b96c8f082dc7c02311e9#block-6a05b96c8f082dc7c02311e9

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Labour MP to stand down to allow Burnham run for byelection amid leadership row

Andy Burnham now has a route back to parliament after a Greater Manchester MP announced he would stand down, triggering a byelection, and putting Burnham in contention to become the next Labour leader.

The Greater Manchester mayor has been seeking to return to parliament for months, but was blocked by Keir Starmer from running in the Gorton and Denton byelection at the start this year, to the anger of his supporters inside the party.

The decision by Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield, which Labour holds with a majority of just over 5,000, paves the way for Burnham to be selected by Labour’s ruling national executive committee, which prevented him last time.
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Sources close to Starmer have suggested he may no longer be in a position to block Burnham’s return, even if it meant a leadership contest at some point before the next general election, as MPs from right across the party would respond furiously if he did so.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/14/labour-mp-to-stand-down-to-allow-burnham-run-for-byelection-amid-leadership-row

There is, of course, the possibility that the 5,000 majority might not be enough, given the general swing away from Labour since 2024, and the win by the Greens in the eventual Gorton and Denton byelection. It would certainly be a test of "does Burnham actually have a significant advantage over other Labour figures in the electorate at large?"

For Labour members, he's the most popular choice for party leader: https://labourlist.org/2026/05/labour-leadership-challenge-polling-survation/

in head-to-heads against Starmer, Burnham wins 61% to 28%. Then Ed Miliband is 46% to 39%; Rayner 45% to 41%; and everyone else loses to Starmer.