Sir Keir Starmer today condemned ‘appalling’ vandalism at Angela Rayner‘s new seaside flat as the Deputy Prime Minister endures a tax row.
Ms Rayner’s apartment in Hove, East Sussex, was targeted overnight following her tearful admission that she failed to pay enough stamp duty on the £800,000 property.
Vandals sprayed offensive graffiti in two-foot tall letters on hoardings and a wall outside her home.
One message read: ‘Tax Evader Rayner!’ while a second said: ‘Tax Evasion’. Another daubing on a wall post simply read: ‘B****.’
Downing Street said the Prime Minister ‘condemns this vandalism in the strongest possible terms’.
‘Whatever scrutiny our parliamentarians may face, it is appalling that their private homes should be targeted in this way,’ a No10 spokesman added.
A spokesperson for Ms Rayner said: ‘This vandalism to residents’ homes is totally unjustifiable and beyond the pale.
‘Neither Angela nor her neighbours deserve to be subjected to harassment and intimidation.
‘It will rightly be a matter for the police to take action as they deem appropriate.’
Sir Keir Starmer today condemned ‘appalling’ vandalism at Angela Rayner ‘s new seaside flat as the Deputy Prime Minister endures a tax row
Ms Rayner’s apartment in Hove, East Sussex, was targeted overnight following her tearful admission that she failed to pay enough stamp duty on the £800,000 property
Vandals sprayed offensive graffiti in two-foot tall letters on hoardings and a wall outside her home
Ms Rayner is fighting for her political future after she admitted on Wednesday that she hadn’t paid enough stamp duty on her Hove apartment.
The Deputy PM – who is also the Housing Secretary – is being probed by a Whitehall watchdog and also faces the prospect of an investigation by tax officials.
Sir Keir is facing growing calls to sack his Deputy PM, despite him having so far stuck by her over the stamp duty row.
Downing Street reiterated that the PM retains ‘full confidence’ in Ms Rayner. But the No10 spokesman did not commit to her staying in post for the rest of the Parliament.
Residents living close by to Ms Rayner’s property in Hove said they were ‘shocked and appalled’ by the vandalism.
One said: ‘It’s shocking. What a disgraceful thing to do. I simply can’t believe it. I hope the police catch them. I’m sure there’s CCTV nearby.’
Another said: ‘I woke up and went for a jog and saw it. It’s a right mess. I’m appalled to be honest. It raises many fresh questions about the safety of MPs again.
‘I’ve seen Angela Rayner around and she said hello and was very pleasant. I’m so astonished really.’
Downing Street said the Prime Minister ‘condemns this vandalism in the strongest possible terms’
Ms Rayner is fighting for her political future after she admitted on Wednesday that she hadn’t paid enough stamp duty on her Hove apartment
Cabinet ministers this morning rallied around Ms Rayner as she fights for her political survival.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the Deputy PM her ‘full confidence’ to remain in post.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she had ‘sought to be transparent’ in the scandal over her tax affairs.
Ms Rayner is said to have saved £40,000 in stamp duty on the Hove property she recently purchased.
This is because she removed her name from the deeds of a family home in her constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester.
The changes supposedly allowed Ms Rayner to pay £30,000 in stamp duty instead of £70,000, which would have been applied if the Hove flat was designated as a second home.
But the Deputy PM on Wednesday admitted she was, in fact, liable for additional stamp duty and she ‘did not pay the appropriate stamp duty at the time of the purchase’.
In a tearful TV interview, a ‘devastated’ Ms Rayner said she ‘deeply regrets’ the error.
The Deputy PM has referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, who is Sir Keir’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests.
Downing Street dodged saying whether Ms Rayner would be expected to resign if Sir Laurie found she had breached the ministerial code of conduct.
It is understood Ms Rayner is spending the day on Thursday meeting regional mayors, including West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin and the North East’s Kim McGuinness, at Derbyshire stately home Chatsworth House.
