Angela Rayner Resigns as 11th Labour MP to Leave Government Since Election

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, resigned after an ethics investigation found she breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on a £800,000 seaside flat, despite acting with integrity according to the ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus. Rayner's resignation represents the 11th departure from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government since the July 2024 general election, marking a higher rate of exits compared to previous UK prime ministers in equivalent periods. The departures include resignations over various issues such as failure to correct police records, disagreements over welfare and international aid cuts, and health reasons, reflecting ongoing instability within Starmer's administration. Locally, constituents expressed mixed feelings about Rayner's resignation, acknowledging her rise from a working-class background but criticizing the stamp duty incident as careless and untruthful. The resignation is expected to trigger a broader government reshuffle as Starmer seeks to stabilize his administration amid these challenges.