Angela Rayner, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has resigned from office following revelations that she underpaid property tax, a move that has dealt a significant blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Rayner, a prominent figure on the left of the Labour Party, stepped down on Friday, September 5, 2025, after an official investigation found she breached the ministerial code by not paying the correct stamp duty on a flat she purchased.
Earlier in the week, Rayner acknowledged the tax discrepancy and referred herself to the government’s independent ethics adviser.
The adviser, Laurie Magnus, concluded in a letter to the Prime Minister that Rayner had failed to act on legal guidance she received, thereby violating the ministerial code.
“Given the findings, and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign,” Rayner wrote in her resignation letter to Starmer.
“I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice. I take full responsibility for this error.”
Alongside her role as Deputy Prime Minister, Rayner also stepped down as Housing Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
In his response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed regret over her departure:
“You will remain a major figure in our party,” he said, noting he was “very sad” to see her leave the government.
Rayner’s resignation comes amid growing scrutiny after media reports alleged she had saved £40,000 ($53,000) in stamp duty by removing her name from another property’s deed prior to the flat purchase.
Rayner revealed that following her 2023 divorce, she sold her share of the family home to a trust fund to secure her son’s future.
The proceeds were used to buy the flat in question.
She claimed the flat was her main residence, which reduced the property tax she owed.
However, she later admitted that this was incorrect, as her underage son technically resided there, disqualifying her from the tax break.
Despite this, Magnus acknowledged Rayner had conducted herself with integrity and had shown “dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service”, even though she breached the code.
Rayner, aged 45, is known for her working-class roots and candid communication style.
She left school at 16 with no qualifications after becoming pregnant, and later built a reputation as a relatable and outspoken political figure.
She has been widely seen as a future Labour leader and a frequent target of criticism from both Conservative MPs and right-leaning media outlets.
Rayner grew up in Stockport, near Manchester, in one of the area’s most deprived social housing estates.
She is a mother of three, one of whom was born prematurely, is legally blind and lives with lifelong special needs.
