Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly declined to state whether he would dismiss Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner should his standards advisor determine she violated the ministerial code.
Rayner referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus after acknowledging an underpayment of stamp duty on an £800,000 flat in Hove.
She attributed the “mistake” to inaccurate legal counsel that failed to “properly take account” of her specific circumstances.
Sources close to Rayner have indicated she sought advice from her conveyancer and two specialists in trust law.
The conveyancing firm utilized by Rayner stated it did not provide tax advice but calculated the stamp duty owed “based on the facts and information provided to us.”
Speaking with the BBC, Sir Keir affirmed he would “of course act” upon Sir Laurie’s forthcoming report, which he anticipates will be “comprehensive” and promptly delivered, though he refrained from commenting on potential dismissal.
He refuted any comparison to Boris Johnson, who, as Prime Minister, did not dismiss then-Home Secretary Priti Patel despite the then-adviser, Sir Alex Allen, concluding she had breached the ministerial code.
The Prime Minister asserted he had strengthened both the ministerial code and the advisor’s role since assuming office.
The code delineates the expected standards of conduct for ministers, encompassing honesty and integrity.
While Sir Laurie can offer counsel on ministers’ adherence to the code, the final decision on any ensuing action rests with the Prime Minister.
When questioned about the report, which sources suggest could be released as early as Friday, Sir Keir stated: “I do think in the end we need to establish the facts, which the independent advisor will do and come to a conclusion.”
“I don’t think it’ll take long now for that bit of process to conclude and then, of course, it does fall to me.”
“I completely accept that, to make a decision based on what I see in that report.”
The Prime Minister possesses the authority to relieve Rayner of her duties as Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister; however, he cannot remove her as Deputy Labour Party Leader, a position to which she was elected by Labour members.
Sir Keir acknowledged knowing on Monday that Rayner was seeking further consultation regarding her tax payments.
Rayner’s team initially affirmed that she had remitted the correct amount of stamp duty on Thursday in response to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
Nevertheless, on Friday evening, she enlisted a lawyer to review her situation. By Wednesday morning, the KC furnished their conclusive advice, indicating she had not paid the correct amount.
Acknowledging the underpayment, Rayner stated: “I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands.”
The Prime Minister – alongside other cabinet ministers – has voiced support for Rayner, telling MPs he was “very proud to sit alongside” her.
Both the Conservative and Reform UK parties have urged Rayner to resign.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asserted the Prime Minister did “not have a backbone.”
“Time and time again he has said that if this situation happens he would instantly sack people.”
“When the shoe was on the other foot when he was leader of the opposition he went after people for this same scenario – as did Angela Rayner.”
“Now that the shoe is on the other foot what we are seeing from them is hypocrisy.”
Badenoch contended that Rayner’s admission of underpaying stamp duty should have resulted in “an instant resignation from her or an instant sacking from Keir Starmer.”
As initially reported by The Guardian, the Deputy Prime Minister utilized Verrico & Associates, a small family conveyancing firm in Kent, to manage the purchase of the Hove property at the center of the tax dispute.
Joanna Verrico, founder of the Herne Bay-based firm, stated the company had calculated the stamp duty “based on the facts and information provided to us,” adding: “We believe that we did everything correctly and in good faith.”
She clarified the company “does not deal with trusts or offer tax advice.”
Experts have previously noted that conveyancers would likely be unable to provide the specialized tax advice required by Rayner.
The identities of the two trust experts consulted by Rayner, as well as whether they possess specialized knowledge of stamp duty tax, remain unclear.