How on earth has Angela Rayner been "cleared" by HMRC?
She didn't pay the extra ÂŁ40,000 stamp duty that was due. She didn't take the specialist tax advice on her flat purchase that she was advised to take.
She failed to pay the extra stamp duty that she, as Housing Secretary, had brought in for second home purchasers.
For HMRC not to issue a fine means they judged her decision as "reasonable care" having been taken, or it was possibly "careless", but not a "deliberate" underpayment.
She clearly did not take "reasonable care" to ensure her tax was correct. And if it was "careless", it was *deliberate* carelessness.
Do you seriously think that if YOU underpaid your taxes by ÂŁ40,000 as the then Deputy Prime Minister did, that you would get away without a fine?
Sorry, but this stinks.
EXCL: Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, paving the way for a potential leadership bid if Keir Starmer’s grip on power unravels.
The former DPM has settled ÂŁ40,000 in unpaid stamp duty, but has not paid any penalty as a result of the investigation.
HMRC was also satisfied there was no tax avoidance.
Rayner tells me she was “bruised” by whole experience because of intrusion into her disabled son’s personal life, but also because it had appeared as though she was “in it for myself” rather than on the side of ordinary people.
Rayner indicated she may run in event of a contest as she would “play my part” and that she understood why Labour MPs were so upset following last week’s election crushing. She said Starmer should “reflect on” stepping aside.