Rayner called a 'hypocrite' for demanding Conservative candidate release tax data

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, was forced to deny that Angela Rayner was a «tax dodger»; and said that she should not be “treated differently”; Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Angela Rayner was accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed she demanded the Conservative Party candidate publish tax data while refusing to publish her own.

The Deputy Leader of the Labor Party wrote to the newspaper The Conservative Party Chairman during the 2021 by-election asked her to publish Jill Mortimer's tax return. This is despite the fact that she has so far refused to publish her tax return or the advice she received in relation to the sale of her council house in Stockport in 2015.

Ms Rayner was accused of lying about her former home in Vicarage Road, Stockport, which she bought in 2007 under the Right to Buy scheme and then made a profit of £48,500 when she sold it eight years later.

In his first comments on the case, Rishi Sunak demanded that Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Rayner give “straight” answers to the dispute.

“Keir Starmer has still not answered a single question. about what's going on with Angela Rayner,» he said.

«When it comes to me or my affairs, people are very happy to ask a lot of questions, including Angela Rayner herself.»

She was registered at the house for five years after marrying Mark Rayner in 2010, while he was listed at another address in Lowndes Lane, a mile away.

Confusion over which property was her primary residence led to questions about whether she avoided capital gains tax by holding the property for more than five years.

At a campaign event on Wednesday in Teesside, protesters followed the Labor Party leader with a banner reading «Angela Rayner tax dodger?»

On Wednesday morning it emerged that Ms Rayner had written to Amanda Milling, the Conservative chairman, during the 2021 election campaign in Hartlepool about the Conservative candidate's husband spending time in the Cayman Islands.

She wrote: “I am writing to you for the second time in as many days to express my serious concerns about the Conservative Party's campaign in the Hartlepool by-election.

“It is reported that your candidate Jill Mortimer lived for some time in a tax haven where her ex-husband worked as a banker. Mrs Mortimer had already admitted that she 'didn't spend much time' in Hartlepool.'

She then asked Mr and Mrs Mortimer a series of questions about their finances, which they had to answer. “Have they received any tax advantages from living there – and has she or he advised others about the tax advantages associated with settling or living in the Cayman Islands?

“In the interests of transparency, will you now publish a full account of Jill Mortimer's time in the Cayman Islands? Will you also order Jill Mortimer to release her entire tax returns for this period?»

Jill Mortimer found herself under pressure from G- Ms Rayner will publish her tax return in 2021 during the Hartlepool by-election. Photo: Owen Humphreys/OA

Sir Simon Clarke, a former Cabinet minister, tweeted: “Hypocrisy is the worst political sin.”

On Tuesday, Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, was forced to deny that her shadow cabinet colleague is a “dodger.” from taxes» and stated that she should not be «treated differently» from other colleagues regarding the release of her tax returns.

Jonathan Gallis, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, tweeted a letter on Wednesday morning, adding: «Rachel Reeves (April 2024): Angela Rayner should NOT be 'treated differently' from other colleagues regarding the release of her tax returns (April 2024).

“Angela Rayner (April 2021): “In the interests of transparency, you will release her entire tax returns.” Same old Laborites»

A property in Stockport which Ms Rayner bought under a right to buy scheme. Photo: Ryan Jenkinson/Story Picture Agency/Ryan Jenkinson/Story Picture Agency

It comes as Rishi Sunak puts pressure on Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Rayner over the row over the sale of the deputy leader of the Labor Party's council home.< /p>

The Prime Minister took aim at the pair as he faced questions about his handling of the William Wragg entrapment scandal.

Mr Wragg voluntarily gave up the Tory whip on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning Mr Sunak was asked why he had not done so. took action against him after the MP admitted his involvement in the scandal.

Mr Sunak was told that Labor said his failure to strip Mr Wragg of the whip showed his «weakness».

But the Prime Minister hit back and accused Sir Keir and Ms Rayner of failing to give “straight answers” ​​over the council building case.

He told LBC: “People can judge me if they want to judge me on what. It's okay, I accept it. On a weak note, Keir Starmer has yet to properly answer any questions about what is going on with Angela Rayner.

“When it comes to me and my affairs, people are very happy to ask a lot of questions. including Angela Rayner herself.”

Mr Sunak continued: “Wait. This is a man who, as far as you believe the media suggests, is going to be walking down 10 Downing Street later this year, and this is a man who will be deputy leader, deputy prime minister of the country, and I think there are very clear questions that she must answer about this.

– He did not answer them. She didn't answer them. I think it's entirely reasonable that people get a straight answer to that question.»

Greater Manchester Police is considering whether to reconsider whether Labour's deputy leader should be held accountable for paying capital gains tax.< /p>

Ms Rayner bought her home in Vicarage Road, Stockport, in 2007 using the Right to Buy scheme and then made a profit of £48,500 when she sold him eight years later. She did not have to pay capital gains tax on the sale because that was her main address on the electoral roll.

However, within weeks of marrying Mark Rayner, her now estranged husband, in 2010, she re-registered. the birth of her two youngest children at his Lowndes Lane address, raising questions about whether she had moved in with him.