Angela Rayner, former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has confirmed that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has cleared her of allegations of deliberate tax evasion or carelessness over her personal financial affairs. The announcement came on May 14 via her X social media account, amid a deepening political crisis within the Labour Party following its heavy losses in local and regional elections last week.
“I have been cleared by HMRC of any deliberate tax evasion. I have always acted with integrity, and I believe politicians must be subject to high scrutiny – which is why I resigned from government and cooperated fully with HMRC,” Rayner stated.
She also expressed readiness to “play her part” in any leadership election if Health Secretary Wes Streeting officially launches a contest. British media reported that Streeting was expected to resign on May 14 to stand, though no formal move was confirmed.
Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign or face a no-confidence vote. More than 80 MPs have called for him to step down, and four junior ministers have submitted resignations, but Starmer insists he will remain in office, warning that any leadership contest would plunge the country into “chaos.”
Under Labour Party rules, anyone wishing to challenge the Prime Minister must secure the backing of 81 of the party’s 403 MPs in the House of Commons. In recent days, the number of MPs publicly calling for Starmer to resign has surpassed this threshold.
Beyond Streeting and Rayner, other potential candidates are being mentioned. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is rated highly by observers, though he would first need to re-enter the Commons; allies say a sitting MP could resign to allow Burnham to stand in a by-election.
While Streeting is from the Labour Party’s centrist wing, Rayner is popular among the left, calling for higher minimum wages and heavier taxes on the wealthy. The recent local election results show deep voter dissatisfaction with the current Labour government, posing a difficult challenge for the ruling party’s future.
