ANGELA Rayner is constrained about being more open about her property and tax affairs due to a court order, Downing Street says.
The Deputy Prime Minister wants to give a fuller explanation after she was blasted following the purchase of an £800,000 seaside flat.
AlamyDowning Street reveal a court order is stopping more details coming out about her tax and property affairs[/caption]
It follows the Tories demanding she is investigated by the independent sleaze adviser over the tax affairs into the property in Hove.
Sir Keir Starmer intervened in the row for the first time saying she was an “incredible” number two.
The Housing Secretary is understood to have saved £40,000 in stamp duty as she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.
The Prime Minister’s Spokesman said: “There is a court order which restricts her from providing further information, which she’s urgently working on rectifying in the interests of public transparency.”
When asked if he had confidence in his deputy, he said: “Yes, the Prime Minister works closely with the Deputy Prime Minister … on delivering on the public’s priorities.”
Her complicated tax affairs also involves reports that her Greater Manchester home is her primary residence which saves £2,000 in council tax on her on a central London grace-and-favour property.
She also split the ownership of her £650,000 constituency home placing it in a trust administered by law firm Shoosmiths.
But pals of the Deputy PM reject any claims it was to do with inheritance tax.
Tory Party chair Kevin Hollinrake said Ms Rayner should “come clean on the litany of accusations of tax avoidance, be it stamp duty, council tax or inheritance tax”.
He has called on the independent ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to investigate.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I think people would appreciate clarity from Angela Rayner.
“I don’t know the details of the house purchases, but the reason why people are asking, as they have been in my constituency, is that they’re worried about hypocrisy.
“We are facing property taxes coming in with the budget, so people start suspecting or worrying that she’s making decisions because she knows what’s coming up.
“That’s why, for her own sake and for her own personal integrity, she should make clear what she’s doing, but more importantly, tell us what’s coming in the budget when it comes to taxes, especially property.”
Angela Rayner is a “great story of British success”, the Prime Minister said,
He added it was a “mistake” for people to brief against her or talk her down.
Sir Keir Starmer told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Angela is Deputy Prime Minister of this country, that’s an incredible achievement.
“And Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister.”
He added: “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again.
“It’s a mistake, by the way. Angela is an incredible prime minister… Deputy Prime Minister, but what a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.
“I’m proud of that. I think we should be proud as a country that Angela Rayner is our Deputy Prime Minister, and that, by the way, will give I don’t know how many working-class children, particularly girls, a real sense of aspiration.”
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