Starmer defends deputy in House
British deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said she had referred herself to the ministerial standards watchdog after acknowledging she had underpaid the amount of tax on an apartment she bought in a southern English seaside resort.
Rayner, who is also Britain’s housing minister, has been under scrutiny for days over her purchase of a flat in Hove, and whether she deliberately avoided paying the correct rate of tax.
In a statement, Rayner said a leading tax counsel had informed her she had received inaccurate advice when making the £800,000 purchase (US$1 million) earlier this summer.
In Britain, levies are charged on property purchases, with higher charges due on more expensive homes and secondary residences. Reports have suggested that Rayner saved £40,000 by not paying the appropriate levy, known as a stamp duty.
AP/Reuters
