If a standards inquiry reveals that Angela Rayner violated the ministerial code by failing to pay property taxes on her flat, Sir Keir Starmer has said that he is ready to fire her.
On Thursday, Sir Keir admitted that the decision “falls on him” to axe Ms Rayner if the ethics probe rules she breached the ministerial code.
Ms Rayner admitted to paying £40,000 less in stamp duty than she should have on her £800,000 home in Hove.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Labour leader rallied behind Ms Rayner, declaring he was “very proud to sit alongside” her.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also threw her support behind the housing secretary, adding that she had “full confidence” in her and claimed she had “tried to do the right thing”.
The assessment of Ms. Rayner’s behaviour is anticipated to be released on Friday by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s independent advisor on ministerial standards.
Sir Keir said he would “act” on Sir Laurie’s findings if he concludes the Deputy PM breached the code.
The Prime Minister said, “We need to establish the facts and come to a conclusion.
“Obviously, I will look very carefully at whatever report he puts in front of me… and then of course I will act.”
Government officials have hinted that Ms. Rayner’s position may not be as safe, even if her fellow members of the House of Commons have backed her.
One minister told The i Paper: “Yesterday, I thought she would be fine, today I think things are slipping.
“I just don’t see how she can stay in charge of housing.”
Another source, lashing out at an apparent media smear campaign, blasted: “At the moment, two points of view can co-exist; you can think she’s still an asset because she’s working class and a victim of the Mail and Telegraph snobbishness.
“On the other hand, you can also think Keir is going to find it hard to keep her in housing, whatever the outcome tomorrow.
“This might change tomorrow, but right now there is a distinction.
“Some people may be privately saying they think she can’t survive, but no one is gathering in corners actively saying she should go.”
Ms Rayner blamed “legal advice that I received” for avoiding payment of the £40,000 tax bill on her seaside property.
However, lawyers for the Deputy Prime Minister said that they had not provided her with any tax advice on the flat purchase.
Joanna Verrico, the managing director of small family-run firm Verrico & Associates, told The Telegraph: “We did not – and never have – given tax or trust advice.
“It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for.
“We probably are being made scapegoats for all this.”
Despite coming from a working-class family and living on a council estate, Angela Rayner has only made life more difficult for the working class. That’s called ‘hypocrisy’, but because the whole lot of them say one thing and then do the opposite, she will get away with it.
Whilst some might be sympathetic to Angela Rayner, especially as she has a disabled child, but that doesn’t mean you can get away with allegedly paying less tax, whoever you are!
She is supposed to be setting the standards because she is a government worker, and if Rayner is found guilty, she should be sacked, and if she isn’t sacked, she should at least have the decency to resign.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 