Police Launch Investigation into Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner Over Electoral Law Concerns
Police have launched an investigation into Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner as speculation over whether she broke electoral law continues. The investigation opened upon “reassessment of information” given to the police by deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, James Daly, about information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police has said that they are looking into whether any offences have been committed. Ms Rayner responded to the announcement by saying that she will stand down if a crime is found.
Ms Rayner has been facing scrutiny about whether she paid the right amount of tax on the 2015 sale of her council house because of confusion over whether it was her principal residence. Ms Rayner has denied any wrongdoing and insisted that controversy over her tax affairs is “manufactured”.
The investigation is focused on claims that Ms Rayner may have broken electoral law in the early 2010s. Ms Rayner was registered on the electoral roll at her Stockport council house from 2007 until 2015 and claims this was her “principal property”. However, her husband was listed at another address around a mile away. Ms Rayner is also said to have re-registered the births of her two youngest children to the address where her husband resided.
The confusion over which address she was actually resident at has prompted claims that Ms Rayner may owe capital gains tax on the 2015 sale of her Stockport home. It has also prompted questions over electoral law.
The controversy originally centred on the 2015 sale of her Stockport home after an investigation by former Conservative party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft in his book Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner. The biography claimed that she had owed more than £1000 in capital gains tax linked to the sale of her former council home in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
Ms Rayner has accused the Conservative party of attempting to “smear” her and insisted that controversy over her tax affairs is “manufactured”. She has also accused Lord Ashcroft of an “unhealthy interest” in her family life and of wanting to “kick down at people like me who graft hard in tough circumstances to get on in life”.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Angela welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police. We remain completely confident that Angela has complied with the rules at all times and it’s now appropriate to let the police do its work.”
The investigation is ongoing as police continue to gather information and assess whether any laws have been broken. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.