Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have launched a probe into whether Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner broke electoral law over information she had given about her main residence more than a decade ago.
GMP had initially said there would be no investigation, but confirmed on Friday it was examining whether any offences have been committed in light of information provided by the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, James Daily.
A police spokesperson said: “We’re investigating whether any offences have been committed. This follows a reassessment of the information provided to us by Mr Daly.”
Mr. Daily, the MP for Bury North, had alleged Ms. Rayner may have made a false declaration on the electoral register about where she had been living. Ms. Rayner has also faced scrutiny over whether she paid the right amount of tax when she sold the property in 2015.
The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne denies the allegations, saying she did “nothing wrong” and said the questions over her tax affairs was “manufactured” in an attempt to smear her.
Starmer ‘Confident’ Rayner Had Not Broken The Rules
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “confident” his deputy had not broken any rules.
“We welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to this matter,” Sir Keir said.
The Labour leader added, “I am fully confident that Angela Rayner has not broken the rules.
Starmer Declines 3 Times to Say if Rayner Should Resign
Addressing the allegations and police probe on Friday, Sir Keir declined three times to answer if Ms. Rayner should resign as the party’s deputy leader if found to have been guilty of a crime.Sir Keir told ITV: “She’s given answers on the issue many, many times over, she’s clearly said she’ll co-operate with the police.
“I do think now is the time to let the police get on with their investigation, get on with the work they need to do, she’ll co-operate with that which is exactly what you’d expect of her.”
In January 2022, Ms. Rayner called for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after the Metropolitan Police Service launched a probe into whether he had breached lockdown rules.
Ms. Rayner said in a post on social media platform X, “Boris Johnson’s Downing Street is under police investigation, how on earth can he think he can stay on as Prime Minister?”
‘Double Standards’
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has welcomed the police probe and accused Ms. Rayner of “double standards.”“I think the double standards have been extraordinary, Angela Rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing she seems to be doing now,” Mr. Shapps said.
He added: “It’s not acceptable to ignore it and it’s not acceptable for Keir Starmer to say he won’t even read reports into it.
“This is something which is a serious matter, it’s important that it’s looked into properly and I welcome the idea that the police are doing that.”
Sir Keir has previously said the Conservative Party is “chasing a smear” and that Britons are more interested in “problems caused by this government.”
Others have come out in defence of Ms. Rayner, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and shadow energy minister Ed Miliband.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Angela welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police.
“We remain completely confident that Angela has complied with the rules at all times and it’s now appropriate to let the police do its work.”
