There are growing demands for Angela Rayner to publish the documentary evidence from HMRC that details how she did not act “carelessly” and had no penalty to pay. Because it doesn’t make sense…
Tax experts led by Labour’s Dan Neidle yesterday challenged the supposed ‘exoneration.’ If it really exists…
Neidle subsequently spoke to tax barrister Graham Aaronson KC, who said Rayner could challenge the extra tax bill in court – a proposition she refused. He put forward her side but Neidle concluded: “The position remains: we can’t assess whether HMRC acted correctly. If Ms Rayner wants people to accept that she acted properly, and HMRC’s decision was correct, then she should release the evidence that led HMRC to conclude she was not careless.”
Eyebrows have also been raised after Aaronson sent a two-page legal letter requesting that HMRC close the matter “as soon as possible,” after which she supposedly received a decision within 24 hours. Barking orders to the taxman doesn’t usually work for punters…
Guido hears that when Rayner was previously “exonerated” – about which concerns were also raised – just as the general election was called in 2024, the journalists with whom she did media did not see any proof. It was all based on trust…
The phantom ‘tax advice’ she received earlier in that scandal was never and has never subsequently revealed either. Even Starmer did not see it. Now once again no evidence has been published, and the media gave Rayner gasping interviews for her grand return to the fray on Thursday…
Basically what people must conclude from this HMRC decision, if it indeed is an HMRC decision, is that if you’re confused about how much tax to pay, you shouldn’t seek professional advice. You should just pay the lowest amount and hope that it all works out OK, knowing that if it doesn’t then you won’t have to pay any penalty. Unless Rayner publishes evidence to the contrary…
British markets have been pricing in Burnham’s return for some time. The reality this morning is causing further ructions, though…
The bond markets:
Yields are set for their biggest weekly jump in two months. The UK is underperforming compared to European neighbours. The pound is also approaching its worst week against the dollar since Trump’s election in November 2024…
The silhouette of Andy Burnham looms above the corridors of Westminster. As Burnhamite MP Paula Barker said: “the markets will have to fall in line”…
Starmer loyalist Steve Reed’s take on the Rickety Coup:
“I saw the Prime Minister yesterday, yeah. He’s fine. He’s focused on getting on with the job. So am I… I mean it’s not an ideal- It’s not a good week that we’ve just had. Let me put that on the table straight away. It reminds me of what went on under the Conservatives, and I think we need to draw that to a close as quickly as possible…”
Reed learned of Josh Simons’ resignation live on a stage with Michael Gove last night and almost swallowed his own teeth. “It’s not a good week”…
Speaking to ITV LibDem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Tom Gordon was excoriating about Ed Davey after the party lost votes in the North:
“It’s really frustrating when we hear the party leadership and Ed Davey talking about the LibDems has been the antidote to Reform. Well, in places like Wakefield where Reform had beaten us. I think we need a better message. And quite frankly, when we’re seeing stunts about drinking, you know, Labour and the Tories need to wake up and smell the coffee. Quite frankly, so do Liberal Democrats too because all’s not rosy with us up here in North.”
Talk has gone around for months that the LibDem MPs are growing increasingly unhappy with Davey. Everyone wants their own slice of leadership drama today…
Josh Simons says:
“For decades, Westminster has overseen the managed decline of towns like mine. We have talked big, then acted small, stuck in a politics of incrementalism that cannot meet the moment. We have lost the trust of those our party was built to serve.
It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference. That must start with a change in leadership.
Today, I am putting the people I represent and the country I love first and will be resigning as MP for Makerfield. I am standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament, and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for.
This has not been an easy decision. This is my family’s home, where only a few weeks ago, doctors and nurses at Wigan Infirmary saved our newborn son’s life.
But we all must make choices and in recent days I found myself with a difficult one: defend the status quo or step forward and act. I have made my choice.
I am in politics because politics is how you change lives for the better. My party has one last chance to do that: deliver for the people and places I represent, drive economic growth, secure our borders, reform our state and politics, and change a status quo that is not working.
That is the fight. I believe Andy is the one to lead it.”
Simons previously said no to Team Burnham when they came knocking. It worked the second time…
Labour’s majority in 2024 was 5,399. Reform on 12,803 vs Labour’s 18,202…
Arise Lord Simons…
UPDATE: Burnham confirms he wants to stand:
“I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.
Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.
Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.
However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.
Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.
I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that.
Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.”
A “very sorry” Starmer has sent his public reply to Streeting after his resignation. No mention of Streeting’s specific criticisms…
Dear Wes,
Thank you for your letter. I am very sorry that you have stepped down from Government. We have worked together for many years and I want to thank you for all your hard work in helping to get us back into Government and for all that you have achieved as Health Secretary.
When we came into Government the NHS was on its knees. Almost two years on, the statistics published today are a result of your work and determination and that of the whole of the NHS. Thanks to the choices we made to stabilise our economy, invest in our public services and reform the NHS, hospital waiting lists have been cut. Patients are now waiting less time for hospital appointments, ambulances are arriving sooner, the NHS is more productive, and people’s experience of healthcare is improving. The NHS is back on its feet.
Alongside these performance improvements, you and your team have set out an ambitious policy agenda. The 10 Year Health Plan will modernise the NHS and wider health system. The Casey Commission and Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care puts us on a path to a National Care Service we can be proud of. Alongside this, the National Cancer Plan, HIV Action Plan, National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, and Life Sciences Sector Plan are all ambitious pieces of work. The Tobacco and Vapes Act will save lives, and the Mental Health Act will improve lives.
This is the difference a Labour government makes. This is the change we are delivering.
Last week’s local election results were extremely tough. I know many colleagues saw good friends lose seats. Everyone in our party is acutely aware that our opponents are more dangerous than ever before. They are a real threat to the values we care about, to the communities we represent and to the country we love.
It is incumbent on all of us to rise to what I see as a battle for the soul of our nation. As part of that we must deliver on all of the promises we made to the country, including our promise to turn the page on the chaos that was roundly rejected by the British people at the last general election.
I am truly sorry you will no longer be sat at the Cabinet table helping to transform our National Health Service. But I have no doubt you will continue to play an important role in our party for many years to come. I hope we can work together to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit, can install hope where they want despair, and can bring people together where they want division.
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”