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Angela Rayner has said she will not publish the “personal tax advice” she received on the sale of her council house despite a police development over her living arrangements.

Labour’s deputy leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was “confident” she had done “absolutely nothing wrong” with regards to the sale of her council house and whether she should have paid capital gains tax on it.

Ms Rayner said she had been “very clear on my advice that I’ve received” – but asked why she would not put that legal advice into the public domain, she said: “Because that’s my personal tax advice. But I’m happy to comply with the necessary authorities that want to see that.”

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Sir Keir Starmer later threw his support behind his deputy at the launch of Labour’s local election campaign in Dudley, telling the audience that she had not broken any rules and was right not to publish the legal advice.

Asked if his deputy should resign if found to have done wrong, Sir Keir said: “Angela has answered I don’t know how many questions about this. She has not broken any rules, she has in fact taken legal and tax advice which has satisfied her, and us, and me about the position.”

Although Ms Rayner has resisted putting her tax advice in the public domain, she has committed to hand over the information to the police and HMRC – something Sir Keir agreed with.

When pressed further on why she would not publish the advice – and whether she would accept the same reasoning from a Conservative politician – Ms Rayner suggested she would be willing to do so if her Tory critics did the same.

“If we’re all going to have a level playing field and we suddenly decide that Conservative ministers need to hand over their tax affairs, if you show me yours, then I’ll show you mine,” she said.

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Labour shadow minister defends Rayner

The Labour leader made comparisons with Ms Rayner’s situation to “beergate”, when he and Ms Rayner were investigated, and later cleared, over allegations of breaching COVID lockdown rules ahead of the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021.

He said: “Where does this end? Are you going to be calling for Tory ministers to publish their legal and tax advice going back over the last 15 years? That is where this ends.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove told broadcasters that, while he was sure Ms Rayner had “done nothing wrong”, it was “in her interest to clear this mess up” and release the advice.

The Labour leader’s defence of Ms Rayner came after Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was “reassessing” its initial decision not to investigate allegations made about her living arrangements after receiving a complaint.

The Labour MP has come under the spotlight in recent weeks over the sale of an ex-council house she previously owned in Stockport, having been accused of avoiding capital gains tax – something she has denied.

But she has also faced scrutiny over claims that in 2010, she may have lived primarily at her then husband’s address, despite registering to vote under her own – which could be a breach of electoral rules.

Ms Rayner has said she paid bills and council tax and was registered to vote at the home she brought through Margaret Thatcher’s “right-to-buy” scheme. If it was her primary address, as she has claimed, she would not have had to pay capital gains tax on it when she sold it in 2015 for £127,500 – making a £48,500 profit

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However, there have been claims that despite registering at Vicarage Road, she was primarily living at Lowndes Lane, Mr Rayner’s address.

Greater Manchester Police looked into the claims and initially said there was no evidence of an offence being committed.

However, James Daly, the Tory MP for Bury North who filed the original complaint about Ms Rayner, followed up with the force and said they had failed to properly investigate the allegations – prompting them to reassess their initial decision.

Read more:
Rayner pleads for ‘privacy’ after row over house sale

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Polls to open for voters in England and Wales

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Polls to open for voters in England and Wales

Polls are to open for the local elections across the country, with the added extra of a by-election on the same day.

Over 2,600 council seats are up for grabs across 107 councils in England, along with 10 mayoralties in major cities and combined authorities, and 25 London Assembly seats.

A total of 37 police and crime commissioners will also be decided at ballot boxes in England and Wales.

And a new MP will be chosen for the seat of Blackpool South in a by-election.

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Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm tonight, and as long as you are in the queue before closing time, you can have your say.

Voters need to bring along a form of photo ID after a change in the law last year – there are 22 types that fit the bill.

And to vote you must be 18 or over, be either a British, Irish or EU citizen, or from an eligible Commonwealth nation, and be registered.

The first of the counts will begin after voting closes tonight and Sky News will bring you all the updates as they happen from across the country.

Further counts will take place over the weekend, with the last results expected on Saturday night.

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US probes Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. over financial transactions: Report

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US probes Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. over financial transactions: Report

U.S. prosecutors are reportedly investigating the fintech firm after a whistleblower claimed it processed thousands of transactions for users from sanctioned countries and terrorist groups.

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John Swinney expected to declare bid to become new SNP leader

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John Swinney expected to declare bid to become new SNP leader

John Swinney is expected to declare his bid to become the new leader of the SNP later today, Sky News understands.

It comes after Humza Yousaf announced he was standing down as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister following his decision last week to cut power-sharing ties with the Scottish Greens – a move which saw his leadership collapse.

Mr Swinney previously served as SNP leader between 2000 and 2004; later becoming Nicola Sturgeon’s number two from 2014 to 2023.

He is considered a front-runner for the top job once again, having garnered support from senior figures within his party, including from the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn.

The Perthshire North MSP is expected to make a statement in Edinburgh on Thursday morning.

However, he could face competition from the party’s former finance minister Kate Forbes, who narrowly lost out to Mr Yousaf in last year’s leadership election.

Kate Forbes speaks to the media at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
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Kate Forbes. Pic: PA

Though the Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch MSP has not confirmed her intention to enter the leadership contest, she has so far refused to rule herself out of the race.

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“I am still considering all the options, but I also know that there is a lot of support for me across the country and across the party, and last year proved that,” she told Sky News on Tuesday.

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It comes after the outgoing first minister, Mr Yousaf, was forced to resign following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement.

Within hours of the power-sharing deal coming to an end, Mr Yousaf faced the threat of a no confidence vote in himself, and later from one in the Scottish government.

Humza Yousaf speaks to Sky News
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Humza Yousaf speaking to Sky News

Mr Yousaf stepped down as Scotland’s first minister just after midday on Monday, saying he was “not willing to treat my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power”.

He said he would remain in post until a replacement first minister was chosen.

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