Nigel Farage issues damning verdict on Angela Rayner's £40k stamp duty scandal

By Lauran O'Toole, Senior Reporter

Nigel Farage has launched his fierce verdict on Angela Rayner (Image: Getty)

Nigel Farage has issued his damning nine-word verdict on Angela Rayner's tax row, after she faces calls to quit her position after admitting that she failed to pay the full amount of stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat in Hove. Ms Rayner has also referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics adviser after she dodged a reported extra £40,000 worth of stamp duty

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Reform UK leader have been engaged in a fierce round of insults in recent weeks with Ms Rayner accusing Mr Farage of failing a generation of young women” with his plans to scrap the Online Safety Act. Ms Rayner argued the move would cause an increase in the prevalence of “revenge porn”. And now as Ms Rayner faces intense pressure over her tax affairs Mr Farage has weighed in on the scandal.

Ms Rayner failed to pay the full amount of stamp duty on her flat (Image: Getty)

The Reform UK leader has piled pressure on Keir Starmer to sack his Deputy Prime Minister with Farage unable to see a way back for Ms Rayner.

Speaking ahead of his appearance at the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in Washington, Mr Farage said: “I don’t see how Angela Rayner can survive this.”

Ms Rayner said she had received inaccurate tax advice admitting that she had even spoken to her family about quitting.

"I spoke to my family about it," the Housing Secretary said. "I spoke to my ex-husband, who has been an incredibly supportive person because he knows that all I've done is try and support my family and help them."

She is reported to have saved £40,000 in stamp duty on her Hove flat because she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, meaning the Hove property is the only property she owns.

In her statement, Ms Rayner said: “When purchasing the property my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty.

“However, given the recent allegations in the press I have subsequently sought further advice from a leading tax counsel to review that position and to ensure I am fully compliant with all tax provisions.

“I have now been advised that although I did not own any other property at the time of the purchase, the application of complex deeming provisions which relate to my son’s trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities.

“I acknowledge that due to my reliance on advice from lawyers which did not properly take account of these provisions, I did not pay the appropriate stamp duty at the time of the purchase. I am working with expert lawyers and with HMRC to resolve the matter and pay what is due.”