With the benefit of some hindsight, it might have been better all around if, having had the offer on her spacious and desirable flat in Hove accepted, the deputy prime minister had set out, in exhaustive detail, how the purchase was being financed, along with all the relevant tax details.
Not much hindsight would have been required to do that, given that Angela Rayner has already weathered a similar real estate-based political storm over capital gains and council tax liabilities related to a previous sale. On that occasion, the intense pressure eventually eased when she was cleared after two police investigations and a review by HM Revenue and Customs. She may not be so fortunate this time.
