Labour loses housing secretary
Angela Rayner has stepped down as deputy prime minister, deputy leader of the Labour Party and housing secretary following an investigation into her stamp duty payments on a property in Hove, East Sussex.
“I must consider the significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking on my family,” Rayner stated. “While I rightly expect proper scrutiny on me and my life, my family did not choose to have their private lives interrogated and exposed so publicly.
“Given the findings, and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”
Rayner’s resignation comes after she referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, earlier this week. The inquiry examined her underpayment of stamp duty on an £800,000 flat purchased earlier this year. Rayner paid £40,000 less than the required surcharge, having declared the property as her main residence rather than a second home.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) September 5, 2025
She maintained that she had acted on advice at the time, stating she believed she was not liable for the surcharge because she had sold her share in her former family home and placed it in a trust for her disabled son.
The Kent conveyancing firm that handled Rayner's flat purchase, however, denied giving the deputy prime minister such advice. “We’re not qualified to give advice on trust and tax matters and we advise clients to seek expert advice on these,” said Joanna Verrico, managing director at Verrico and Associates. She added that the firm completed Rayner’s stamp duty return based on information provided by Rayner.
The controversy intensified after Rayner admitted the error, and it was later confirmed by legal counsel that she was liable for the additional duty. Rayner’s colleagues had publicly supported her, but pressure mounted as the details of the case emerged and opposition parties questioned her position, citing her previous criticism of Conservative ministers over similar matters.
Rayner’s departure is a significant loss for Labour, removing a prominent figure from the cabinet at a time when the party faces increased scrutiny over its approach to housing and taxation.
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
