STORY
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has admitted to underpaying stamp duty on a second-flat—purchasing an £800,000 property in Hove and paying the standard rate rather than the surcharge reserved for additional residences.
Rayner, who also serves as Housing Secretary, acknowledged the error today. She explained that she had relied on legal advice suggesting she was liable only for the standard stamp duty rate when she bought the Hove flat in May 2025, because at the time she had transferred her stake in her Greater Manchester home into a trust. However, further counsel revealed that the trust’s provisions meant she—or her children—could still benefit from the Greater Manchester property, meaning the Hove flat should have been classified as a second home, triggering the higher stamp duty of up to around £70,000 rather than the approximately £30,000 she paid—a difference of roughly £40,000.
Rayner has voluntarily referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards to examine whether her actions breached the Ministerial Code. She has also contacted HM Revenue & Customs to determine and pay any additional tax owed, acknowledging the error and expressing regret. Keir Starmer has publicly defended Rayner, praising her transparency and noting that she had gone above and beyond by challenging a court confidentiality order in order to explain the circumstances fully.