Angela Rayner has just put her hand up to be Britain’s next Prime Minister
Key Points
- Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of any wrongdoing in her stamp duty dispute.
- In a new statement, she says she is now free to “get on with the job” after resigning last year.
- The timing comes as Keir Starmer faces heavy pressure following poor local election results.
- Observers see the statement as Rayner positioning herself as a potential successor.
- It marks a major comeback for the former deputy PM and signals leadership ambitions.
In a carefully worded statement that lands amid mounting pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner has declared herself cleared by HMRC over a high-profile stamp duty dispute – and signalled she is ready to “get on with the job” at the highest levels of government.
The former Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary resigned from her roles last year after questions arose over whether she should have paid the higher additional properties rate of stamp duty on an £800,000 flat purchase in Hove.
Rayner maintained she relied on expert advice that the standard rate applied, given her circumstances involving a family trust arrangement for her son.
In her statement on X today, Rayner said:
I have always sought to act with integrity, and I believe politicians should be held to high standards – that is why I resigned from government and cooperated fully with HMRC. I wanted to ensure that I paid every penny that I owed, and have done so. I am relieved that my family can now move on – and that I can get on with my job.
The timing is notable as Labour has suffered significant setbacks in recent local elections, fuelling open speculation about Starmer’s future and a potential leadership contest.
Rayner has been frequently named as a frontrunner or kingmaker in such a scenario, alongside figures like Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
From resignation to redemption?
Rayner stepped down from government in September 2025 to cooperate fully with the investigation.
She has consistently maintained that she paid what she believed was due at the time and later settled the £40,000 underpayment. HMRC’s conclusion that she took “reasonable care” and acted in good faith removes a major cloud over her political future.
Rayner, long viewed as one of Labour’s most prominent working-class voices, has never been shy about her ambitions. She has delivered sharp critiques of the government’s direction in recent months, positioning herself as someone who can reconnect with traditional Labour voters.
With Starmer’s approval ratings under strain and questions swirling about the party’s direction post-local elections, today’s statement reads to many observers as the opening salvo in a post-Starmer era. Allies have reportedly been urging her to prepare a bid should the opportunity arise quickly.
Rayner has now left little doubt that she sees herself as a major player in whatever comes next for the Labour Party.
