Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party.
She wrote to her boss, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to tender her resignation.
Here is the letter in full – and what he said in response:
Dear Keir,
Thank you for the personal and public support you have shown me in recent days.
As you know, on Wednesday I referred myself to your independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, to conduct a thorough investigation into my personal financial circumstances after I became aware that it is likely I inadvertently paid the incorrect rate for stamp duty land tax (SDLT).
I have always taken my responsibilities as deputy prime minister, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, as well as a member of parliament with the utmost seriousness.
I have long believed that people who serve the British public in government must always observe the highest standards, and while the independent adviser has concluded that I acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout, I accept that I did not meet the highest standards in relation to my recent property purchase.
I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice given both my position as housing secretary and my complex family arrangements.
I take full responsibility for this error.
I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount.
I must also consider the significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking on my family.
While I rightly expect proper scrutiny on me and my life, my family did not choose to have their private lives interrogated and exposed so publicly.
I have been clear throughout this process that my priority has, and always will be, protecting my children and the strain I am putting them under through staying in post has become unbearable.
Given the findings, and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign as deputy prime minister and secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, as well as deputy leader of the Labour Party.
For a teenage mum from a council estate in Stockport to serve as the highest level of government has been the honour of my life.
The challenges of government are nothing compared to the challenge of putting food on the table and getting a roof over our head when I brought up kids working as a home help. Too many people face the same across our country.
I’ve always known that politics changes lives because it changed mine.
The last Labour government gave me the tools I needed to build a better life for me and my young son, and that’s why I’ve been working relentlessly from day one in government to do the same for the next generation.
Every day I had in office, I worked to serve working class communities like the one that I grew up in, which are too often overlooked by those in power.
I am proud that in every decision I made, I did it for them.
I would never have become deputy prime minister if not for the decisions taken by the last Labour government, giving me a council house to support me, Sure Start to help raise my kids, and the security of a minimum wage – and I can only hope that the changes I made in government will have the same impact for young girls growing up on council estates like I did.
Through my Employment Rights Bill people across the country will receive the biggest uplift in workers’ rights in a generation. This landmark legislation will be game-changing for millions of people stuck in insecure and low-paid work, giving them the dignity and security they don’t just need but also deserve.
I am and will remain deeply proud of that legacy. I am so proud to have worked alongside the trade union movement, who have given me everything, to deliver that.
Our Renters’ Rights Bill will finally ban the oppressive rule of no-fault evictions and will reset the balance between renters and landlords through groundbreaking protection for renters. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home, and I know this legislation will deliver that for millions of people across the country.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also be instrumental in getting the homes so many people across this country need built, and I am so proud that at the spending review we announced the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation with the overwhelming amount of this going to genuinely social rent homes.
And last week, I introduced the English Devolution Bill to Parliament. The largest single package of devolution from any Westminster government to local people across England. This landmark legislation will permanently change the balance of power, giving true control to those with skin in game.
We delivered an elections strategy which will mean 16 and 17 year olds getting the vote for the first time, as well as ambitious plans to ensure the most marginalised communities are registered to vote.
We took steps to stabilise the broken foundations of local government and deliver the first genuinely fair funding review and the first multi-year settlement for a decade.
My department, through my excellent team of ministers, has also provided the largest ever in homelessness prevention services to local authorities, to get Britain back on track to ending homelessness for good.
We’ve worked relentlessly to bring an end to the building safety crisis and developed new measures to get peoples’ homes fixed quicker and hold rogue freeholders to account.
We’ve also worked to boost community cohesion, tackle hate crime, and reset the relationship with faith communities.
I have been lucky to work alongside the most talented group of ministers who worked with dedication to deliver for working people.
I thank Matthew Pennycook, Jim McMahon, Alex Norris, Wajid Khan, and Sharon Taylor.
I too am grateful to my brilliant parliamentary team, Harpreet Uppal, Mark Ferguson, and Gen Kitchen.
For me, being in office is the chance to change the lives of the people I grew up alongside. I will do whatever I can to continue doing so.
Thank you for your leadership and for your friendship. I will continue to serve you, our country and the party and movement I love in the weeks, months and years ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Angela
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Sir Keir Starmer’s handwritten letter to Angela Rayner in full:
Dear Angela
Thank you for informing me of your decision to resign from the government.
I am very sad that your time as deputy prime minister, secretary of state and deputy leader of the Labour party has ended this way.
As you know we acted in accordance with the strengthened system relating to ministerial conduct that we put in place on coming into government.
You were right to refer yourself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards and right to act on his conclusion.
Although I believe you have reached the right decision, it is a decision which I know is very painful for you.
You have given your all to making the Labour government a success and you have been a central part of our plan to make Britain fairer for working families.
Your work at MHCLG (the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government) to help build the homes that Britain needs has been hugely important and your work to create more fairness in the workplace through the employment rights bill represents a very significant achievement that will change the lives of millions of people.
On a personal note, I am very sad to be losing you from the government.
You have been a trusted colleague and a true friend for many years.
I have nothing but admiration for you and huge respect for your achievement in politics.
I know that many people of all political persuasions admire that someone as talented as you is the living embodiment of social mobility.
Even though you won’t be part of the government, you will remain a major figure in our party. I know you will continue to fight for the causes you care so passionately about.
My very best wishes and with real sadness,
Keir
