Angela Rayner “played by the rules” over her tax matters, her shadow cabinet colleagues said, amid further allegations surrounding her former living arrangements.
The deputy leader of the Labor Party has Become the center of attention In recent weeks she sold a former council house in Stockport she previously owned and was accused of evading capital gains tax, which she denies.
The charges revolve around whether the property was her main residence, as she claimed, or whether she actually lived near her then-husband’s address, thereby exposing her to liability for capital gains upon the sale of the property.
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The Mail on Sunday now claims to have seen dozens of social media posts by the Labor MP between 2010 and 2015, which it says show her now ex’s address was her main property.
But shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told Sky News that all reports showed “just like many families across the country” [Ms Rayner] There was and is a blended family,” adding: “Like everyone else, she had a complicated life, spending time at her husband’s place and time at hers. Many families do this. “
Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sunday morning, the Labor MP said Ms Rayner had “done nothing wrong” and had the party’s “full support”.
But amid questions about why she had not published her tax returns and calls for Rishi Sunak to do so, Mr Lamy said: “I think the Prime Minister’s arrangements and expectations are different to the current situation, where we don’t have a government yet.”
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He added: “We are in the political season, we all know there is an election in May and we know why these smears are being carried out.
“The average household in this country is less wealthy than £870 because of the Tory tax burden. That’s what it’s really about.”
“This isn’t about Angela Renner and her blended family. This is about the Conservative mess and ‘let’s distract and focus on this non-story’.”
Mr Lammy concluded: “She complied with the rules. There is an investigation underway and let’s see how it goes, but I believe Angela did nothing wrong here.”
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However, Conservative deputy leader James Daley called on Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer to “show some leadership and launch a full, transparent and independent investigation into the Rayna scandal”.
He said: “As more evidence emerges that Rayner lied, it is increasingly clear that the British people cannot trust the deputy leader of the Labor Party. She should stop dismissing and distracting and speak out now.”
“If Rayna lied but Sir Keir Starmer refused to sack her, it would once again show that Keir Starmer is just a weak leader and his claims that Labor has changed are rubbish.”
Responding to the Daily Mail’s claims, a Labor spokesman said: “Angela and her husband have mutually decided to retain their current home to reflect the family’s circumstances and share childcare responsibilities.
“Angela has always made it clear that when they have children and get married, she will also spend time on her husband’s property. She has every right to do so.”
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