A former Tory minister has joined high-profile figures to defend Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner; police said they were considering multiple allegations while investigating allegations about former living arrangements.
Nick Boles, an MP for nine years, slammed the review into the sale of Ms Rayner’s former council house and whether she had evaded paying the correct tax or was correctly registered at the correct address.
Former Conservative MP Matthew Parris condemned the “stalking” of the Labor MP, calling it “outrageous: brutal, brutal”, while adding: “The Conservative attack on Angela Rayner is one of the most bizarre displays of hypocrisy I have ever witnessed.” snobbish and completely disproportionate to any mistake he may (or may not have) made”.
Former attorney general Nazir Afzal also said the attorney general would not take any action against Ms. Rayner “based on what is publicly available.”
His comments came as Greater Manchester police chief Stephen Watson suggested there were a number of allegations that could go beyond housing regulations.
GMP previously said they were investigating the Labor deputy leader into whether he broke election law by selling false information about the sale of a town hall in Stockport and his address in the 2010s.
During an appearance BBC Radio ManchesterMr Watson said: “All I can say from the information we have made public is that there are a number of allegations floating around, I don’t need to tell people that.
“On our initial assessment, we determined that it was unlikely that we would initiate an investigation. Upon further investigation or the provision of further information, we re-evaluated this decision and announced that we would initiate a formal investigation.”
He added: “This is a neutral action; it does not mean that the information gives us any hard or fast evidence to base anything on at this stage. We simply have a claim, these claims are all over the news, we will get to the bottom of it.”
It sounds like this Times He reported that police were investigating “tax matters and other matters” in connection with the housing business. A source told the paper: “It’s very well sourced, it’s not just one issue. “There is a wealth of material and a clear public interest that needs to be fully investigated.”
The investigation into Ms Rayner was launched after Conservative MP and party deputy leader James Daly complained to police after GMP had previously said it would not investigate the allegations. Mr Daly said he was informed that neighbors contradicted Ms Rayner’s statement that her property, which was separate from her husband’s property, was her main residence.
But several former Tory grandees have attacked the party’s campaign against the shadow leveling secretary. In an opinion piece in The Times, Mr Parris said “the ‘Catch Rayner’ media mood has been whipped up by party politicians” and added: “In my opinion, there are people who call the Tories rude names, who benefit from Tory town hall sales and who should know their place”. An arrogant young woman, a leftist for God’s sake.”
He added: “Where was the Tory anger over millionaire Nadhim Zahawi and (he insists) faulty tax returns? “Like the hunt for Labor candidate Peter Tatchell in the Bermondsey by-election in 1983, the Rayner affair is one of those stories that make us shudder in hindsight because we have lost all perspective.”
Meanwhile, in a letter to the same newspaper, Mr. Boles stated that Ms. Rayner’s “attackers” “couldn’t bear the idea that they were about to lose to a woman who was pulling herself up by her bootstraps.” So who will wipe the floors with them?
The shadow leveling secretary has vowed to resign if he is found to have committed a crime but said he was confident he had done nothing wrong.
Labor said it was confident Ms Rayner complied with the rules and that the Ashton-under-Lyne MP “welcomed the chance to explain the facts to the police”.
Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the police investigation into the sale of Ms Rayner’s council house and said it would allow a “line to be drawn” on the issue.
“We welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to be drawn on this issue.
“I am completely confident that Angela Rayner has not broken the rules. She will cooperate with the investigation, as you would expect, and that is essentially a matter for the police.”
Some legal experts have noted that even if Ms. Rayner is found to have provided false information, it is unlikely that further action will be taken.
Scott Wortley, a law lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, pointed out that any possible prosecution must be initiated within a year of the suspected crime.
Providing false information is an offense under Section 13D of the Representation of the People Act 1983, but the legislation imposes a one-year time limit for bringing any charges. The allegations against Ms Rayner date back to before 2015, making it unlikely she will be prosecuted.
According to the law, judges may extend this period for another year in certain cases.
Sir Keir has previously said the Conservatives were “looking for smear” when asking questions about the deputy leader and that people were more concerned with “the problems this Government is causing”.
He said: “Angela Rayner was asked numerous questions about this matter. She answered them all. She said she was more than happy to answer any questions from the police or authorities.”
“I don’t need legal advice. My team saw this.”