'Is Angela Rayner set to maintain her role as Deputy PM leading up to Christmas? Bridget Phillipson refrains from providing a response'

In the political arena, controversy continues to swirl around Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, as she faces intense scrutiny over her tax affairs and the purchase of her property.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has declined to confirm whether Rayner will still hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister come Christmas. In a statement, Phillipson emphasised that it is crucial for the independent adviser to complete his work and provide the outcome.

The centre of the controversy lies in the purchase of Rayner's £800,000 seafront flat in Hove. The Telegraph reported that she used £160,000 from a trust set up in her son's name to finance the purchase. Furthermore, tax experts suggest that the Hove property cannot be treated as Rayner's only residence due to the nature of the trust.

Rayner has admitted to avoiding paying a £40,000 stamp duty bill on the purchase of her new home. Additionally, it has been revealed that the sale of her Ashton-under-Lyne property was part of an 11-year legal battle with the hospital where her son was born. A trust fund was established to look after the interests of her son, and in 2020, her Ashton-under-Lyne property was put into this trust, affecting the treatment of her Hove property for stamp duty purposes.

In response to the accusations, Rayner referred herself to HMRC and Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister's independent adviser overseeing ministerial interests. The independent ethics advisor concluded that Rayner violated ministerial code rules, leading to her resignation as Deputy Prime Minister amidst the resulting political crisis.

Bridget Phillipson has refused to speculate on the outcome of an investigation by the Prime Minister's ethics adviser regarding Rayner. She emphasised that there is a process in place and she will not pre-judge the outcome of the investigation.

Meanwhile, away from the Rayner controversy, Nigel Farage has been in Washington to give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee. However, his visit has not been without controversy, as he compared the UK to North Korea during his visit to Washington DC.

This news article aims to provide a factual account of the ongoing controversy surrounding Angela Rayner and her tax affairs. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.

'Is Angela Rayner set to maintain her role as Deputy PM leading up to Christmas? Bridget Phillipson refrains from providing a response'