Angela Rayner cleared: Former deputy prime minister did not deliberately avoid paying taxes after buying Brighton flat

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing after an investigation into her taxes, it has been reported, as she is embroiled in the ongoing Labour Party row over ousting leader Sir Keir Starmer. Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, was removed as deputy PM amid claims she had underpaid tax after buying a flat in Brighton and putting her family home into a trust for her son.

Now, it has been claimed the investigation showed she did not deliberately avoid paying taxes due - though has not been officially confirmed. The conclusion of the probe could free Ms Rayner to stand in any potential leadership election - which would see the winner become prime minister - should Starmer be challenged.

She has previously said while she would not trigger a leadership poll, Rayner has not ruled out running for the top job, as a 'soft left' candidate. Speaking to the Guardian, she said the investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty which saw her leave Government, “clipped her wings”.

“I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes,” she added.

The update comes as Rayner told ITV she had not - and would not - make a pact with her ally, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, ahead of any challenge to Starmer.

Many expect Health Secretary Wes Streeting to launch a challenge to Starmer as early as today (May 14), which could fire the starting gun on a race for Number 10 among leading Labour contenders.

That list would include Rayner and former Labour leader Ed Miliband, though Burnham - currently not an MP - would be ineligible to stand.

Is Angela Rayner married?

As a teenager, Ms Rayner was in a relationship with Neil Batty, giving birth to their son Ryan in 1996, at the age of 16. The couple split three years later. She married Unison official, Mark Rayner, in 2010 and they went on to have two sons together, Charlie and Jimmy before they separated in 2020.

It was reported in 2022 that Ms Rayner was "in a relationship" with Labour MP Sam Tarry which ended the following year but the pair are said to have had an ‘on/off’ relationship since then.

When son Ryan had a daughter in November 2017, Ms Rayner became a grandmother at age 37, giving herself the nickname “Grangela”.