Rayner resigns as housing secretary

Angela Rayner has resigned as housing secretary and deputy prime minister following widespread criticism of her for paying an incorrect amount of stamp duty on a flat.

Rayner, in her resignation letter today, said: “I have long believed that people who serve the British public in government must always observe the highest standards, and while the independent adviser has concluded that I acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout, I accept that I did not meet the highest standards in relation to my recent property purchase.”

She said she “deeply regrets” her decision not to seek tax advice given her position as housing secretary and her complex family arrangement.

She added: “I take full responsibility for this error. I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount.”

Under her tenure, the government has put an emphasis on social housing, with a priority on the development of new social rented housing in particular. Rayner herself grew up in a council house.

The government announced a £39bn 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme in the spending review in June.

On her watch, the government has also overhauled the planning system to try and stimulate housebuilding. Changes announced last year include the return of mandatory local housing targets and a new method to calculate them, along with measures aimed at releasing more green belt land for development.

>> Also read: The 1.5 million-home question: Does the government’s planning reform programme add up?

>> From the archive: Angela Rayner: a secretary of state on a mission, but has she won over the industry?

Rayner said: “Every day I had in office, I worked to serve working class communities like the one that I grew up in, which are too often overlooked by those in power. I am proud that in every decision I made, I did it for them.

“I would never have become deputy prime minister if not for the decisions taken by the last Labour government, giving me a council house to support me, Sure Start to help raise my kids, and the security of a minimum wage - and I can only hope that the changes I made in government will have the same impact for young girls growing up on council estates like I did.”

She said the Renter’s Rights Bill, which will ban no-fault evictions, will “reset the balance between renters and landlords through ground breaking protection”.

The government is expected to announce a new housing secretary soon and to hold an election for deputy leader of the Labour party.