Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is facing renewed scrutiny over her housing arrangements amid allegations she attempted to avoid paying a council tax surcharge on her government-provided residence.
The Council Tax Controversy Unfolds
Westminster Council implemented a 100 per cent council tax surcharge on second homes in April, a policy that fell under the remit of Ms Rayner's own department at the time. This measure meant her annual council tax bill of £2,034 for Admiralty House should have doubled immediately.
The luxury flat forms part of the £18 million Whitehall property that once served as Winston Churchill's Westminster home. According to fresh allegations, Ms Rayner only paid the second home premium after being contacted by The Mail on Sunday about the arrangement.
Timeline of Payments and Political Fallout
In April, Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake wrote to Ms Rayner questioning whether she classified Admiralty House as her primary or secondary residence. At that stage, she was dividing her time between her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency and a newly purchased flat in Hove.
Mr Hollinrake received a response stating only that her 'council tax responsibility' had been 'properly discharged'. The matter escalated when The Mail on Sunday published an investigation on June 8 questioning her arrangements.
According to Mr Hollinrake, the Cabinet Office eventually intervened to pay the surcharge on Ms Rayner's behalf. The government department confirmed in August that Admiralty House had been designated a second home, and revealed on October 21 that the premium had been 'paid in full in a one-off payment in July 2025'.
Cover-Up Allegations and Legal Breaches
In a recent letter to Labour leader Keir Starmer, Mr Hollinrake presented what he describes as 'new evidence that proves Angela Rayner broke the law whilst in post as a minister'. He alleges she breached the Ministerial Code and misled Parliament.
The Conservative chairman argues the surcharge became payable on April 1, not when the payment was eventually made months later. 'Council tax bills are issued in March and then have to be paid upfront,' he stated. 'A taxpayer cannot just choose to pay their bill months later.'
Mr Hollinrake contends the July payment represents a retrospective attempt to address the initial failure to declare and pay the full tax liability from the April deadline. He describes this as a 'cover-up'.
The allegations gain additional weight from Ms Rayner's ministerial responsibilities. From July 2024, she served as Secretary of State overseeing council tax, with her department issuing guidance on the second homes premium in November 2024.
Representatives close to Ms Rayner have defended her actions, stating: 'The Government is responsible for liaising with Westminster Council and administering council tax on Admiralty House, not Angela, and there is no suggestion she did anything other than properly discharge her own responsibilities as and when required.'
A Government spokesman supported this position, noting: 'The Government was responsible for paying the council tax on Admiralty House, in line with long-standing precedent under successive governments.'
This controversy emerges as Ms Rayner, who resigned from the Cabinet in September following a separate stamp duty issue concerning her seaside property, is reportedly planning her political comeback.
