Angela Rayner has said she will “do the right thing and step down” if she is found to have committed a crime as police investigate accusations that she may have broken electoral law.
But the deputy Labour leader said she was confident she had “followed the rules at all times” after Conservative Party deputy chairman James Daly claimed she may have given false information about her main residence.
The party has been dogged in recent weeks by Tory accusations over Ms Rayner’s living situation.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) previously said it would not be investigating the allegations, but following a complaint from Mr Daly, the force confirmed it had reassessed information and launched a probe.
In a statement on Friday, Ms Rayner said: “I’ve repeatedly said I would welcome the chance to sit down with the appropriate authorities, including the police and HMRC, to set out the facts and draw a line under this matter. I am completely confident I’ve followed the rules at all times.
“I have always said that integrity and accountability are important in politics. That’s why it’s important that this is urgently looked at, independently and without political interference.
“I make no apologies for having held Conservative ministers to account in the past. Indeed, the public would rightly expect me to do so as a Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
“We have seen the Tory Party use this playbook before – reporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their record. I will say as I did before – if I committed a criminal offence, I would of course do the right thing and step down. The British public deserves politicians who know the rules apply to them.
“The questions raised relate to a time before I was an MP and I have set out my family’s circumstances and taken expert tax and legal advice. I look forward to setting out the facts with the relevant authorities at the earliest opportunity.”