Angela Rayner’s lawyers say they did not give tax advice on buying her seaside flat in Hove - and claim they have been made “scapegoats” in the scandal.
Conveyancing firm Verrico & Associates has insisted it did nothing wrong when handling the purchase of the deputy prime minister’s £800,00 property in May.
Ms Rayner said she had not attempted to dodge taxes when failing to pay the required £40,000 in stamp duty on the second home, but that she had made a “mistake” based on incorrect legal advice.
Sources close to her say she was given legal advice from a conveyancer and two experts in trust law that all suggested the amount of stamp duty she paid on the property was correct - but none has been named.
Verrico & Associates managing director, Joanna Verrico, told The Telegraph: “We did not and never have given tax or trust advice.” She added: “We probably are being made scapegoats for all this, and I have got the arrows stuck in my back to show it.”
It comes amid an ongoing investigation by Sir Keir Starmer’s independent standards adviser into whether Ms Rayner broke ministerial code.
UK Politics LIVE
- Starmer says he will 'act on' independent adviser's investigation into Angela Rayner
- PM refuses to back Rayner staying in post until the election
- Reeves: I have full confidence in Angela Rayner
- Rayner's stamp duty scandal – the questions left to answer
- Rayner house graffitied with 'tax evader'
- Angela Rayner’s lawyers claim they have been made 'scapegoats'
‘The judge in this case will be HMRC’: Readers react as Angela Rayner admits tax mistake
21:20
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Rebecca Whittaker
“She was given legal advice that she relied upon, trusting the solicitors that carried out the conveyancing to get the law correct. She has done nothing wrong. The solicitors that advised her incorrectly should foot the bill.”
Read more of what you had to say here:
Watch: Angela Rayner acted in good faith on stamp duty, Bridget Phillipson says
21:00
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Rebecca Whittaker
Why did Rayner not pay enough tax on her flat?
20:40
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Rebecca Whittaker
Ms Rayner referred herself to the ministerial ethics adviser on Wednesday after admitting, following days of silence, that she had wrongly listed her flat.
When purchasing a £800,000 property in Hove in May, she paid the standard rate of stamp duty, estimated to be £30,000. However, the higher rate for second homes would have made this as much as £70,000.
The deputy PM explained: "When purchasing the property, my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty.”
She says she did this because she had sold her stake in her constituency home in Greater Manchester into a trust of which her 17-year-old son, who has lifelong disabilities, is the beneficiary.
However, Ms Rayner was later advised that, despite not owning any other property at the time of the purchase, "complex provisions relating to the trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities".
Angela Rayner’s lawyers insist they did not give tax advice blamed for stamp-duty scandal
20:20
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Nadine Dorries defects to Reform UK and declares ‘I’m 100% behind Nigel Farage’
20:09
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Rebecca Whittaker
Former Conservative minister Nadine Dorris has declared “the Tory party is dead” as she announced she was defecting to join forces with Reform leader Nigel Farage.
The former Culture Secretary, who was MP for Mid-Bedfordshire from 2005 to 2023, revealed her decision in her column for the Daily Mail.
Read more here:
Watch: Angela Rayner's home slapped with 'tax-evader' graffiti
20:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Starmer says he only knew Rayner was taking further advice on Wednesday
19:40
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he only became aware on Wednesday that Angela Rayner had sought additional advice over her flat arrangements.
“What I knew is she had taken advice at the time of the conveyance,” he said.
“I knew that she was taking further advice – that further advice arrived Wednesday morning – and Angela referred herself to the independent adviser.”
It comes after Sir Keir put his support behind his deputy during PMQs on Wednesday, telling MPs he was “very proud to sit alongside” her.
Conveyancer said it calculated stamp duty using HMRC’s own online calculator
19:20
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Rebecca Whittaker
The conveyancer used by Angela Rayner to buy the flat in Hove which she admitted to underpaying stamp duty on has denied it gave her legal advice on tax.
According to reports, a statement by Verrico & Associates, based in Herne Bay, Kent, confirmed that it advised her on the purchase of the flat and “did everything correctly and in good faith”.
In the statement, Joanna Verrico, managing director said: “We acted for Ms Rayner when she purchased the flat in Hove. We did not and never have given tax or trust advice. It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for.
“The stamp duty for the Hove flat was calculated using HMRC’s own online calculator based on the figures and the information provided by Ms Rayner.
“That’s what we used and it told us we had to pay £30,000 based on the information provided to us. We believe that we did everything correctly and in good faith. Everything was exactly as it should be.
“We probably are being made scapegoats for all this and I have got the arrows stuck in my back to show it. We are not an inexperienced firm, but we’re not qualified to give advice on trust and tax matters and we advise clients to seek expert advice on these.”
MP says 'Hove is better than this' following vandalism on Rayners flat
19:00
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Rebecca Whittaker
MP for Hove and Portslade, Peter Kyle has said he is “disappointed” the heritage wall in Hove has been defaced, after vandals target Angela Rayners home.
The Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, said: “I’m really disappointed that the heritage wall has been defaced over this issue. Hove is better than this.
“There are many, many ways people can express their anger and disappointment in Angela Rayner, including reporting her to the Commissioner for Standards. But defacing a wall is not one of those ways.”
Prime minister has condemned graffiti outside Rayners home
18:45
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Rebecca Whittaker
Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have condemned graffiti outside the Deputy Prime Minister’s seaside flat in Hove.
The word “bitch” along with a much larger sign saying “tax evader!” have been pictured on a white wall on the outside of the home, after Ms Rayner admitted underpaying stamp duty on the property.
Ms Rayner’s spokesperson has called the vandalism “totally unjustifiable and beyond the pale” and said it is a matter for the police.
Across the road from her seafront flat, “Tax evader Rayner” and “Rayner tax avoidance” have been graffitied on construction chipboard.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Some of you may have seen the photos of the vandalism of the Deputy Prime Minister’s home this morning.
“The Prime Minister condemns this vandalism in the strongest possible terms.
“Whatever scrutiny our parliamentarians may face, it is appalling that their private homes should be targeted in this way.”
Angela Rayner’s lawyers claim they have been made 'scapegoats'
18:31
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Rebecca Whittaker
A conveyancing firm that handled the purchase of Angela Rayners flat in Hove, have said they have been made “scapegoats” and did not give her tax advice.
It comes as Ms Rayner referred herself to the ministerial ethics adviser on Wednesday after admitting, following days of silence, that she had wrongly listed her Hove flat as her primary residence, earning a tax break reportedly worth up to £40,000.
The deputy prime minister – who is also housing secretary – said in a statement that she had received legal advice which told her she did not need to pay a higher rate of tax on the property.
The claim has come from conveyancing firm Verrico & Associates.
Joanna Verrico, the managing director of the firm, told The Telegraph: “We acted for Ms Rayner when she purchased the flat in Hove. We did not and never have given tax or trust advice. It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for.”
Sources close to Ms Rayner had said she received legal advice from a conveyancer and two experts in trust law on the amount of stamp duty paid - but none have named.
There is no suggestion that Verrico & Associates was the conveyancer firm that gave the tax advice on the flat purchase.
Reform media ban in Nottinghamshire is a disturbing glimpse of a future with Farage in power
18:00
,
Tom Watling
Can Blair’s ‘smooth operator’ help Starmer stem the rise of Nigel Farage?
17:45
,
Tom Watling
‘The judge in this case will be HMRC’: Readers react as Angela Rayner admits tax mistake
17:30
,
Tom Watling
Inside Angela Rayner’s stamp duty scandal and the questions still left to answer
17:15
,
Tom Watling
‘Tax evader’: Vandals target Angela Rayner’s Hove flat in wake of stamp duty scandal
17:00
,
Tom Watling
Starmer hopes £10bn deal to build Norwegian warships in Glasgow is first of many
16:45
,
Tom Watling
Israel president to visit London next week, report says
16:30
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Tom Watling
Israel’s president is due to visit London next week to meet with top government officials, The Guardian has reported.
Isaac Herzog is expected to meet UK ministers and senior political figures during a trip to London next week, the newspaper says, citing two anonymous sources.
The meeting, the first with any senior Israeli official since foreign secretary David Lammy met his counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, in the spring, comes as the UK is expected to recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations general assembly on 9 September.
Labour mayor re-elected chair of UK mayors group
16:15
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Tom Watling
The Labour mayor for West Yorkshire has been re-elected as chair of the UK Mayors Group, which represents metro mayors.
Tracy Babin was elected at a meeting today of the Mayoral Council for England on Thursday, chaired by deputy PM Angela Rayner.
Gaza stance could endanger Scottish Jews, Swinney warned
16:01
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Tom Watling
The Scottish Government’s announcement on Gaza could endanger Scottish Jews, John Swinney has been warned.
The First Minister announced on Wednesday that all new Government funding going to arms companies dealing with countries credibly accused of genocide – including Israel – would be paused.
He also urged the UK Government to recognise the state of Palestine and pull out of its free trade deal with Israel, as well as instructing Scottish Government bodies not to provide support for trade with Israel.
The First Minister’s statement came as the Scottish Government flew Palestinian flags over its buildings in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Responding to the announcement, chairman of the Jewish Council of Scotland Timothy Lovat – who met the First Minister and Culture Secretary this week – raised concerns.
“It is disappointing that despite his warm and reassuring words when we met with him and Angus Robertson on Monday, the First Minister has chosen to express a position that we are concerned will undermine the safety, security and well-being of the Jewish community in Scotland,” he said.
“We set out our concerns in writing to the First Minister’s office yesterday and will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to safeguard our community’s welfare and future in Scotland.”
Starmer says he will 'act on' independent adviser's investigation into Angela Rayner
15:43
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Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will “act on” the conclusions of his independent adviser's investigation into Angela Rayner, as he declined to say whether he would sack his deputy if she was found to have breached the ministerial code.
In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister said: “There's a clear procedure. I strengthened that procedure. It is now taking place.
“I am expecting a result pretty quickly. I do want it to be comprehensive, as you'd expect.
“And then, of course, I will act on whatever the report is that's put in front of me.”
Asked whether he would sack Ms Rayner, Sir Keir said: “Angela Rayner has referred herself to the independent adviser. My experience is he will be comprehensive in the report that he gives me, it will be quick, and that's what I'm expecting.
“And so I want to let that process take its course. I did strengthen that process, so she's done the right thing, referred to the independent adviser, and now he will do his work and report back to me.”
Electoral Commission releases Q2 party donations
15:30
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Tom Watling
Donations to the Conservatives fell between April and June this year as parties declared £11 million in support, figures from the Electoral Commission have shown.
The Tories received £2.9 million in private donations in the second quarter of the year, down from £3.4 million in the first three months of 2025.
A third of the Conservatives’ total came in the form of a £1 million donation from video game entrepreneur Jez San, following an earlier £1 million gift to the party in February.
The party also received £250,000 from its current treasurer, Graham Edwards, and another £200,000 from businessman Kamal Pankhania, half personally and half through one of his companies, Westcombe Homes.
Despite the fall in donations, the Conservatives still out-raised Labour, which received £2.6 million in donations, slightly more than the £2.4 million it declared between January and March.
More than half of that figure came from trade unions, including £746,000 from Unite, which has threatened to “re-examine” its relationship with Labour over the Government’s handling of a long-running strike by refuse workers in Birmingham.
Other donations included £442,000 from the GMB union, £246,000 from Usdaw and £106,000 from the Communication Workers Union.
Labour’s largest private donation during the period came in the form of £80,000 from property company Activepine, owned by Birmingham-based businessman Maqbool Ahmed.
Donations to the Liberal Democrats fell by around half, to just £773,597, while despite Reform UK’s consistent lead in the polls, donations to Nigel Farage’s party remained relatively steady at £1.4 million.
NEW: The Tories raised the most money between April and June
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Starmer says allies 'must go further' in pressuring Putin to end war
15:15
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Tom Watling
Allies must “go even further” in applying pressure on Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has told a meeting of the coalition of the willing.
A Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister addressed a virtual call of the coalition of the willing from Glasgow this morning.
“The Prime Minister began by sharing his condolences with Portugal on behalf of the United Kingdom following the tragic crash in Lisbon last night.
“Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister said Putin could not be trusted as he continued to delay peace talks and simultaneously carry out egregious attacks on Ukraine.
“That was further underlined by the indiscriminate attacks in Kyiv last week, causing significant damage to the British Council and EU delegation buildings, he added.
“Discussing the latest military planning for the coalition of the willing, the Prime Minister emphasised that the group had an unbreakable pledge to Ukraine, with President Trump’s backing, and it was clear they now needed to go even further to apply pressure on Putin to secure a cessation of hostilities.
“The Prime Minister also welcomed announcements from coalition of the willing partners to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine to further bolster the country’s supplies.
“He also thanked military planners and chiefs of defence for their ongoing and rapid work to ensure a force could deploy in the event of a ceasefire.
“The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.”
Starmer spokesperson fields questions on PM's knowledge of Rayner tax affairs
15:00
,
Albert Toth
Sir Keir Starmer was kept informed "as appropriate" about the steps Angela Rayner had taken over her tax affairs, a Number 10 spokesperson has said.
Downing Street faced repeated questions from journalists about what the Prime Minister knew about his deputy's tax affairs and when, after a series of conflicting statements from different figures in Government.
A No 10 spokesman said on Thursday: "The Prime Minister was kept updated on steps that the Deputy Prime Minister has taken, as was appropriate.
"As soon as that final legal opinion was received by the Deputy Prime Minister on Wednesday morning she immediately took steps to self-refer herself to the IA (independent adviser), and she updated the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity as well."
Asked if Sir Keir believed Ms Rayner had been transparent with him, the spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been updated on the steps that the Deputy Prime Minister has taken - you've got his words from yesterday in the House when he said she has gone over and above in setting out the details."
Why did Rayner not pay enough tax on her flat?
14:44
,
Albert Toth
Ms Rayner referred herself to the ministerial ethics adviser on Wednesday after admitting, following days of silence, that she had wrongly listed her flat.
When purchasing a £800,000 property in Hove in May, she paid the standard rate of stamp duty, estimated to be £30,000. However, the higher rate for second homes would have made this as much as £70,000.
The deputy PM explained: "When purchasing the property, my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty.”
She says she did this because she had sold her stake in her constituency home in Greater Manchester into a trust of which her 17-year-old son, who has lifelong disabilities, is the beneficiary.
However, Ms Rayner was later advised that, despite not owning any other property at the time of the purchase, "complex provisions relating to the trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities".
Reeves names last possible date for Budget as she eyes tax hikes to plug £40bn black hole
14:29
,
Tom Watling
Rayner spends day with mayors amid intense scrutiny
14:14
,
Albert Toth
It is understood Angela Rayner is spending the day meeting regional mayors, including West Yorkshire’s Labour Tracy Brabin and the North East’s Kim McGuinness, at Derbyshire stately home Chatsworth House.
The purpose of the meeting has not been revealed.
In pictures: Starmer visits BAE Systems Scotstoun
14:07
,
Tom Watling
Reeves says she has 'full confidence' in Rayner
13:55
,
Tom Watling
Where did Rayner get the money for her Hove flat?
13:41
,
Albert Toth
The deputy PM says she sold her stake in her Greater Manchester family home to her son’s trust in January 2025. This gave her the money to pay the deposit for the Hove flat, which she owns with a mortgage.
The court-instructed trust was set up in 2020 using a payment that was granted after “a deeply personal and distressing incident” involving her son as a premature baby, she says. Now in his late teens, he has life-long disabilities, including blindness.
In a statement, she said: “The trust was established to manage the award on his behalf – a standard practice in circumstances like ours.”
“Some of the interest in our family home was transferred to the trust in 2023.”
She then sold all of her interest in the Ashton-under-Lyne property to this trust in 2025, although it remains her family home. It is Ms Rayner’s son’s trust that now holds equity in the Ashton house.
Labour, Conservatives, Reform and Lib Dems to face off in immigration TV debate
13:24
,
Tom Watling
Rayner's stamp duty scandal – the questions left to answer
13:15
,
Albert Toth
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has disclosed she underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat, claiming she received incorrect legal advice about a complex tax rule.
Here, The Independent breaks down everything you need to know about the issue, the questions are left to answer, and what happens next:
Tax expert reveals how much Rayner could be fined
13:01
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Albert Toth
Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, says that if HMRC finds that Ms Rayner was “careless” in her tax dealings, she could face a fine of £12,000.
Speaking to Times Radio, the tax expert explained that the fine in this scenario would be up to 30 per cent of the reported £40,000 she saved.
Alongside referring herself to the ministerial ethics adviser, the deputy prime minister has also contacted HMRC to inform them that she underpaid on stamp duty.
“I’m prepared to pay that and fully comply with the HMRC as well,” she said.
‘Tax evader’: Vandals target Angela Rayner’s Hove flat in wake of stamp duty scandal
12:45
,
Tom Watling
Earlier, we reported that vandals had graffitied Angela Rayner’s property in Hove.
You can read our piece on this in full below.
PM refuses to back Rayner staying in post until the election
12:27
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer will not give Angela Rayner is backing until the next general election, as he has with David Lammy and Rachel Reeves.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said he would not “go through the cabinet” and determine who will stay on until the end of the parliament.
And he said Sir Keir retains full confidence in Ms Rayner.
But the PM’s official spokesman has previously said Mr Lammy will be foreign secretary until the next general election, as will Ms Reeves as chancellor.
Ms Rayner’s future has been cast into doubt by her failure to pay the right amount of stamp duty on the purchase of her flat in Hove.
Starmer condemns graffiti at Rayner property
12:22
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned in the “strongest possible terms” vandalism at Angela Rayner’s seaside flat in Hove, Downing Street has said.
Rayner ethics report not expected on Thursday
12:20
,
Tom Watling
The make or break ethics report into Angela Rayner’s tax affairs is not expected to be published on Thursday, The Independent understands.
Sir Laurie Magnus’s probe into the deputy prime minister’s stamp duty liability could come as soon as Friday.
But government figures increasingly believe it is unlikely to be published as soon as Thursday, as some reports had suggested.
Ms Rayner’s future hinges largely on the findings and the wording of Sir Laurie’s report.
Angela Rayner: How working-class hero who rose through Labour ranks became mired in tax scandal
12:04
,
Tom Watling
Rayner team brands Hove graffiti ‘unjustifiable’
11:49
,
Tom Watling
A spokesperson for Angela Rayner has decried the offensive graffiti written on the deputy prime minister’s new property in Hove as “unjustifiable and beyond the pale”.
Vandals wrote the words “tax evader” and “b***h” outside her flat earlier today.
The spokesperson told Sky News: “This vandalism to residents' homes is totally unjustifiable and beyond the pale.
“Neither Angela nor her neighbours deserve to be subjected to harassment and intimidation.
“It will rightly be a matter for the police to take action as they deem appropriate.”
In pictures: Angela Rayner's house graffitied
11:47
,
Tom Watling
Who could replace Angela Rayner if she resigns over stamp duty row?
11:32
,
Tom Watling
As opposition politicians continue to demand Angela Rayner’s resignation over her failure to pay full stamp duty tax on her seaside property, our political correspondent Millie Cooke looks at who could replace the deputy PM if she steps down.
Tory anger at Angela Rayner is because 'she is so good at her job', claims Commons leader
11:14
,
Tom Watling
The Tories are having a go at Angela Rayner “because she is so bloody good at her job”, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said after the Deputy Prime Minister admitted to underpaying stamp duty on her seaside flat.
