Rayner has decided to start briefing on why she is innocent as Greater Manchester Police investigate numerous allegations. She’s now claiming via The Times that she had no capital gains tax to pay on the property because she renovated her kitchen, which offset the tax. Tax sleuth (and Labour activist) Dan Neidle estimates that the enhancement expenditure would have to be between £15,000 and £23,000 for no CGT to be payable. You can see the fantastic result of that level of expenditure on Zoopla from when Rayner sold the place…

This does not look like fantastic value for money. Guido is also sure the public will agree that it makes little sense to spend £23,000 on a house bought for £79,000. Did her “dab hand at DIY” brother not fancy helping out?

It also raises another question. Does anyone else wonder where the supposedly “lowly paid care worker” supposedly got this £23,000 to spend?