Page 7 | Angela Rayner tax fail

Iwishicouldflyhigh · 2025-09-03T11:56:44+00:00

But it’s ok because she was just badly advised. I’ll remember that excuse next time I fill in my tax return. But still confused about one can have 2 main homes?

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/09/2025 16:24

Livelovebehappy · 03/09/2025 15:35

If not, why not? If I was in such a high profile role i would be employing the best advisers. It's just unbelievable that theyve got it wrong if what she is saying is true.

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If asked, most people I think would say they'd trust a lawyer over a politician in matters of factual accuracy and integrity. What with law being a regulated profession and politics a wild west

Araminta1003 · 03/09/2025 16:24

All I am hearing is that the tax system in this country is a complete shambles! Maybe that will incentivise them to sort it out!

PacificState · 03/09/2025 16:25

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:19

Pp are citing Shoosmiths, not that I know various advisors but they look like they know what they’re doing. I doubt they fucked up.

In which case they should protect their reputation.

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I know absolutely nothing about this area - but yes, if they’re a reputable firm and (as pp are saying) this kind of trust arrangement is not that unusual, it seems unlikely she will have been given flatly incorrect advice. Not impossible I guess, but unlikely. It feels like the probable end point in all of this (in terms of press coverage) is the publication of the correspondence, which presumably she can authorise as the person who paid for it. So if they really believe she’s in the clear, they should just skip to that stage (redacting the names of individual Shoosmith employees).

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 03/09/2025 16:27

IdaGlossop · 03/09/2025 15:48

It is possible that she lied but we don't know enough currently to be sure. Only sight of the relevant documents will tell us if she has lied. She has indicated that the continuing media interest in the case prompted her to engage another legal advisor to review what had happened and this led to the advice that she is liable for the additional stamp duty on the Hove flat. Concurrently, tgere was an order from the family Court that prevented disclosure, to protect her child. The order has now been lifted.

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She has indicated that the continuing media interest in the case prompted her to engage another legal advisor to review what had happened

Hmmm. I mean, essentially saying, 'It was only when the Telegraph started saying I was a tax dodger that I thought maybe I should find out whether I was or not' is hardly a ringing endorsement of either the intelligence or the integrity of a Deputy Prime Minister, what ever colour rosette they wear, is it?

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:27

olderandnonthewiser · 03/09/2025 13:23

It’s really not hard to pay stamp duty on a second home. I know. I’ve done it.
sounds to me she’s put a house in a Trust as a way to avoid tax now, and in the future (inheritance etc)and has fell flat on her face.
Theyre all as bad as one another: every party.
She does need to go, irrespective of your political leanings, as all those before her who haven’t been squeaky clean.

Nope. She’s done nothing wrong - the house is in trust for her disabled child and she and her ex DH alternate who lives there for consistency with childcare. She had legal advice to say that since she did not own that home it was not her main residence.

PropertyD · 03/09/2025 16:28

IdaGlossop · 03/09/2025 16:14

She bought the flat with her partner, and put down a 20% deposit. So she must have borrowed about £300,000 - perfectly doable either her MP and ministerial earnings.

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i didnt know she had a partner? She has an on off relationship with someone I believe was fired? Surely it cannot be them?

FullOfLemons · 03/09/2025 16:29

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:22

Why how wealthy is she?

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She gets paid her about 150-160k per annum.

A lot of her living expenses are also paid for her either by the taxpayer or by Labour donors e.g. we found out that Lord Ali paid for her dresses.

So I think she has quite a decent level of disposable income

Lifeinthepit · 03/09/2025 16:29

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:27

Nope. She’s done nothing wrong - the house is in trust for her disabled child and she and her ex DH alternate who lives there for consistency with childcare. She had legal advice to say that since she did not own that home it was not her main residence.

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She's admitted she was wrong and had avoided tax.

You try her argument with HMRC and see where it gets you.

Lifeinthepit · 03/09/2025 16:30

PropertyD · 03/09/2025 16:28

i didnt know she had a partner? She has an on off relationship with someone I believe was fired? Surely it cannot be them?

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Isn't her partner that guy she had the NYE freebie with in New York?

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:30

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:27

Nope. She’s done nothing wrong - the house is in trust for her disabled child and she and her ex DH alternate who lives there for consistency with childcare. She had legal advice to say that since she did not own that home it was not her main residence.

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The pp is correct, she’s already said she owes the £40k

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/09/2025 16:31

nearlylovemyusername · 03/09/2025 16:11

you don't ask where she found 800k from? MP salary is in a range of 95k, she doesn't seem to have highly paying city jobs on her CV?

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How dare you question Angela on where the money came from that's so mean and nasty. Just do as she says, not as she does...😂

In reality, I think she's backed by Unison isn't she, or is it Unite? Unless she was kicked out over the Birmingham bin strikes. So if she needed a loan I am sure they'd help out. Or maybe she's tapped up Lord Ali again ;)

I hope this doesn't also turn into a Mandleson style loan scandal...another 'How does an MP on £50k afford a £500k house in Notting Hill' Those were the days!)

Coffeeishot · 03/09/2025 16:33

Ooohjustalittlebit · 03/09/2025 13:17

Her “family home” is in a trust for the benefit of her children (or possibly just for her disabled child, not sure). Her children live there full time, her and her ex alternate who lives there with the children and who stays elsewhere. This makes sense for stability for the kids, especially if that house has been adapted for their disabled kid.

She bought the new flat in Hove.

Her lawyers thought that as she did not actually own the family home it did not count as her residence. More specialist tax advice has now suggested that actually it may count as her residence, so she has asked HMRC to confirm how much SDLT she should pay.

I can’t stand the woman and think she’s a terrible mp, but in all honesty I don’t think she’s done much wrong here, assuming she’s telling the truth about the advice she received then it’s an understandable mistake.

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This, i quite like her but I agree with you she tried to do the right thing for her family she was badly advised.

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:33

Sunholidays · 03/09/2025 15:04

Its common for houses to be in trust for a disabled child,

I didn’t know this.

I came across it a lot working as a disability outreach worker. For the parents of disabled, and particularly severely disabled children, the worry is what will happen to them after the parents are gone, or are no longer able to care for them. Placing a property or a fund in trust puts it out of the reach of things like care fees for the parents, so that their disabled child will have something to fall back on when they need it.

LovelyLuluu · 03/09/2025 16:34

I don't understand why she couldn't talk openly about it yesterday. Why was she not 'allowed'? Wasn't that her choice?

Unfortunately, this is not the first time she's had issues like this- there have been two others around expenses including a trip for her boyfriend to the US.

jbm16 · 03/09/2025 16:34

Jadefade · 03/09/2025 13:18

She doesn't have 2 homes. She had a home which she is giving to her husband as part of a divorce settlement and she is buying a new flat in Brighton. She is paying exactly what she owes, there is nothing fraudulent or unseemly about this, it's perfectly legal.
The issue is that she is forking £800k on a flat; she doesn't have a home in her constituency; she is the minister for housing; there was an element of secrecy.

This is factually incorrect, she sold her share of house for £162k to her child's trust, her name is still on the house deeds, and then used the money as deposit on the new home...

She is moving to Hove for a safe seat, as he current constituency is at risk.

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:35

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:33

I came across it a lot working as a disability outreach worker. For the parents of disabled, and particularly severely disabled children, the worry is what will happen to them after the parents are gone, or are no longer able to care for them. Placing a property or a fund in trust puts it out of the reach of things like care fees for the parents, so that their disabled child will have something to fall back on when they need it.

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She still owes the tax. That’s been clarified.

Lifeinthepit · 03/09/2025 16:35

Coffeeishot · 03/09/2025 16:33

This, i quite like her but I agree with you she tried to do the right thing for her family she was badly advised.

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The problem is, you're the one who signs off on your own tax return and are responsible to HMRC. It always send shivers down my spine signing mine off as you have to totally trust your adviser and also check everything. She could sue her accountant for professional negligence if she thinks the advice was wrong although I bet she won't...

Blinkingbother · 03/09/2025 16:35

About a decade ago, when were buying our current home our old next door neighbour popped over to tell us about a stamp duty avoidance scheme he’d used to buy his most recent purchase and to recommend it to us. Dh & I looked into it. We could see how it worked but really weren’t sure it was above board. It would have been potentially career ending for dh if he was found out & it was proven to be illegal/wrong. So we didn’t do it. It’s quite simple to be moral/do the right thing really. We’d all like to pay less tax wouldn’t we.

nomas · 03/09/2025 16:36

Coffeeishot · 03/09/2025 16:33

This, i quite like her but I agree with you she tried to do the right thing for her family she was badly advised.

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She has way more resources at her disposal for advice than Joe Bloggs, including government bodies.

If she was badly advised, she would be more vociferous about this but she is meekly paying the tax, which makes me think she knows she has been rumbled.

Never underestimate the depths people can go to for money.

BIossomtoes · 03/09/2025 16:37

She is moving to Hove for a safe seat, as he current constituency is at risk.

According to rumour. Repeating tittle tattle as fact is disingenuous to say the least.

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:37

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:30

The pp is correct, she’s already said she owes the £40k

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My point was with how the situation arose.

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:38

Coffeeishot · 03/09/2025 16:33

This, i quite like her but I agree with you she tried to do the right thing for her family she was badly advised.

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‘Badly advised’ by Shoosmiths? Do you have evidence that happened?

IBEAN · 03/09/2025 16:38

Ooohjustalittlebit · 03/09/2025 13:17

Her “family home” is in a trust for the benefit of her children (or possibly just for her disabled child, not sure). Her children live there full time, her and her ex alternate who lives there with the children and who stays elsewhere. This makes sense for stability for the kids, especially if that house has been adapted for their disabled kid.

She bought the new flat in Hove.

Her lawyers thought that as she did not actually own the family home it did not count as her residence. More specialist tax advice has now suggested that actually it may count as her residence, so she has asked HMRC to confirm how much SDLT she should pay.

I can’t stand the woman and think she’s a terrible mp, but in all honesty I don’t think she’s done much wrong here, assuming she’s telling the truth about the advice she received then it’s an understandable mistake.

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why do you dislike her so much, she seems to know her job, is it snobbery?

Rosscameasdoody · 03/09/2025 16:38

EasternStandard · 03/09/2025 16:35

She still owes the tax. That’s been clarified.

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I wasn’t disputing that - just making a general point.

Jenkibuble · 03/09/2025 16:39

In her position, , she should have gone above and beyond checking that what she was doing was 100% OK !!!!! / not a grey area at all

She has to practice what she preaches . She hasn't and therefore needs to hang up her position / Keir needs to do it for .

That said, she has lush hair ! :) irrelevant I know