Angela Rayner is taking a career break after Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s adviser on ministerial interests, ultimately found against her in her handling of her tax affairs.
Rayner’s departure is a disaster for the prime minister and for the government – although most of the damage has already been done. The verdict in the court of public opinion will be negative. She paid less stamp duty on her Brighton flat, albeit in “good faith”, than she should have done, and if it hadn’t been for journalists asking questions, she would have got away with it.
