Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake has demanded that Angela Rayner step down from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary following her admission of underpaying stamp duty on a property purchase.
Speaking on GB News, Mr Hollinrake argued that Ms Rayner's position had become untenable given her responsibility for housing and taxation policy. "She's got to step down. She's Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister," he stated.
The Tory Chairman emphasised that Ms Rayner oversees housing policy, including taxation matters, at a time when property taxes have already increased under Labour and are expected to rise further.
Mr Hollinrake pointed out that regulations regarding second home stamp duty are clearly accessible and well-established.
Kevin Hollinrake called on Ms Rayner to hand in her notice
|GB NEWS
"It's not as if these rules on paying second home stamp duty are obscure. They're on the first page of the HMRC website when it talks about stamp duty," he said.
He particularly criticised what he perceived as hypocrisy from Ms Rayner and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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"Particularly given Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer have taken the moral high ground on this. I don't see how she can realistically stay in post," Mr Hollinrake concluded.
The controversy centres on Ms Rayner's recent acknowledgement that she failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a property acquisition.
Mr Hollinrake joined Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello on GB News to discuss the scandal
|GB NEWS
The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed on Wednesday that she had incorrectly paid insufficient stamp duty when purchasing an £800,000 flat in Hove earlier this year.
The property was bought in May, with Rayner initially paying £30,000 in stamp duty after classifying it as her primary residence.
However, following consultation with what she described as "leading tax counsel" in recent days, Ms Rayner acknowledged that she should have paid the higher rate applicable to second homes. This could amount to an additional £40,000 in tax owed.
The admission came after weeks during which the Deputy Prime Minister's supporters had maintained she had acted correctly.
Angela Rayner has admitted wrongdoing over her tax affairs | GB NEWSMs Rayner, who also serves as Housing Secretary, divides her time between multiple residences including her constituency home in Ashton-under-Lyne, a grace-and-favour apartment at Admiralty House in Whitehall, and the newly acquired Hove flat.
In a detailed personal statement, Ms Rayner explained that she had originally relied on legal advice when determining the property's tax status.
She has since referred herself to the Prime Minister's ethics adviser and contacted HMRC to arrange payment of the outstanding amount.
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Rayner revealed she had considered resigning over the matter and expressed regret about the error, attributing it to inadequate advice received at the time of purchase.
Mr Hollinrake's intervention represents a significant escalation in Conservative criticism of the Deputy Prime Minister, with the party chairman directly challenging her ability to continue in her ministerial roles.
His comments specifically targeted what he characterised as Ms Rayner and Mr Starmer's tendency to claim moral superiority on ethical matters.
The Tory Chairman suggested this stance was now undermined by Ms Rayner's tax oversight.
The timing of Mr Hollinrake's demands comes approximately 21 hours after Ms Rayner's public admission of the stamp duty underpayment.
His appearance on GB News marked the first major Conservative response to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement.
By highlighting Ms Rayner's dual responsibilities for housing policy and taxation matters, Mr Hollinrake sought to establish a direct conflict between her ministerial duties and her personal tax affairs.
He noted that property taxes had already increased since Labour took office and predicted further rises ahead.
The Conservative Chairman's emphasis on the accessibility of stamp duty regulations appeared designed to counter any suggestion that the error was understandable.
His reference to HMRC's website implied that someone in Ms Rayner's position should have been aware of the correct procedures.
Mr Hollinrake's call for resignation adds political pressure as Rayner awaits the outcome of her self-referral to the Prime Minister's ethics adviser.