The law firm used by under-fire Angela Rayner for the purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove say that they have been made “scapegoats” and did not give the Deputy Prime Minister any tax advice. Joanna Verrico, managing director of the family-run firm, said that their procedure is to refer clients to a tax expert.
“We acted for Ms Rayner when she purchased the flat in Hove. We did not and never have given tax or trust advice. It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for,” Verrico said.
“The stamp duty for the Hove flat was calculated using HMRC’s own online calculator based on the figures and the information provided by Ms Rayner.
“That’s what we used and it told us we had to pay £30,000 based on the information provided to us. We believe that we did everything correctly and in good faith. Everything was exactly as it should be.
“We probably are being made scapegoats for all this and I have got the arrows stuck in my back to show it. We are not an inexperienced firm, but we’re not qualified to give advice on trust and tax matters and we advise clients to seek expert advice on these.”
Rayner has resigned.
Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party after being found in breach of the ministerial code.
This comes as an inquiry led by ethics watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus, after the now-former deputy prime minister admitted to underpaying stamp duty on her second home in Hove.
The purchase of her seaside flat in Hove, which cost around £800,000, led to an underpayment in tax of some £40,000 following poor advice, an error she said she “deeply regretted”.
Sir Keir Starmer hesitated about whether he would sack his deputy PM and housing secretary if she was found to be in breach in the ministerial code. She had to go. So much this Government has done in office has gone against the wishes of the British people. Mainly immigration and asylum-seekers staying in hotels funded by the tax payer leading to awul crimes.
Something had to happen. It has and whilst it won’t help with the immigration problem, it does, at least, bring closure to this matter. Which, frankly, was bringing disgrace on Labour. The tories don’t look so bent after all.
