Manchester police reviewing Angela Rayner council house claims

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Police are reviewing claims that Angela Rayner might have damaged electoral regulation within the early 2010s when she lived between two council homes in Stockport.

On Monday the police confirmed {that a} detective chief inspector had been assigned to rethink the case, simply days after Ms Rayner accused the Conservative occasion of making an attempt to “smear” her and insisted that controversy about her tax affairs was “manufactured”.

Police had initially stated that Ms Rayner wouldn’t face an investigation over claims she gave false details about the place she was residing for the electoral roll, however have now confirmed in a letter to deputy Tory occasion chairman James Daly that they may “review the circumstances”, in line with the Times.

Mr Daly, the MP for Bury North, stated Greater Manchester police had didn’t correctly examine claims the Labour deputy chief might have damaged the regulation.

The unique investigation was triggered by former Conservative occasion deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, who prompt that she didn’t correctly declare her principal residency in his e-book Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner, main some to counsel that Ms Rayner might owe capital beneficial properties tax on the sale of her property.

Government steerage says tenants can apply to purchase their council residence by way of the right-to-buy scheme whether it is their “only or main home”.

HMRC guidelines state married {couples} or civil companions can solely rely one property as their major residence.

Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Police stated there was no proof that Ms Rayner had dedicated any offence after Mr Daly had requested them to analyze if she had given false data.

According to the Times newspaper Cheryl Hughes, a detective chief inspector at Greater Manchester police, wrote to Mr Daly on Monday: “I have read your letter outlining your concern over the lack of investigation into the matters you raised in your initial complaints to GMP on the 25th February regarding Angela Rayner MP.

“Following receipt of your recent letter dated 13th March 2024, I have been requested to review the circumstances you have outlined to reassess our decision around an investigation. I will update with the outcome.”

The Labour MP has staunchly defended her actions and insisted that there had been “no unlawfulness”.

She advised BBC Newsnight: “I’ve been very clear there’s no rules broken. They [the Conservatives] tried to manufacture a police investigation … I got tax advice which says there was no capital gains tax. It’s a non-story manufactured to try and smear me.”

Ms Rayner has maintained that she formally lived other than her husband for the primary 5 years of their marriage between 2010 and 2015.

Greater Manchester police have been approached for remark.