Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has assured that she will step down if found guilty of committing a crime, but she remains confident that she has abided by the rules.
This follows the confirmation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) that they are investigating allegations regarding potential breaches of electoral law by providing false information about her main residence a decade ago.
Ms. Rayner is facing scrutiny over whether she adhered to the rules when declaring her principal property, as well as the tax implications of selling her property in 2015.
Despite previous statements from GMP that there would be no investigation, they have now stated that they are reassessing the information provided by Conservative Party Deputy Chairman James Daily to determine if any offenses have been committed.
Ms. Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, has refuted the allegations against her, labeling the questions about her tax affairs as a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation.
In response to the police investigation, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed confidence in his deputy’s innocence and refrained from commenting on whether she should resign as the party’s deputy leader if found guilty.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused Ms. Rayner of applying double standards, given her previous calls for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign during a police investigation into a breach of lockdown rules.
In a statement, Ms. Rayner reiterated her commitment to stepping down if found guilty of a criminal offense, emphasizing the importance of accountability in politics.
She maintains that she followed the rules at all times and criticized the Conservative Party for using police investigations as a political tactic.
Ms. Rayner emphasized the need for an independent and impartial review of the matter without any political interference.
She defended her actions of holding Conservative ministers accountable in the past, stating that it is her duty as the deputy leader of the opposition to do so.
Ms. Rayner addressed the allegations surrounding the sale of her Stockport council house in 2015, denying any wrongdoing and dismissing the attacks as a smear campaign.
She clarified that Vicarage Road was her principal property, despite her husband residing at a different address at the time.
The unauthorized biography alleging improper declaration of her main home has been dismissed by Ms. Rayner as baseless.
Government guidelines state that a tenant can purchase their council home under the right-to-buy scheme if it is their primary residence.
Ms. Rayner’s husband was listed at a separate address, bought under the same scheme, while she registered her children’s births at his residence around the time of their wedding.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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