[Politics] Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of 'smearing' working class Angela Rayner

[Wolf.17]

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of "smearing a working-class woman" after the PM made a jibe about Angela Rayner's tax affairs.

Police are investigating Ms Rayner after claims she should have paid tax on the profits of a house sale.

Sir Keir is backing his deputy, who has said she will stand down if she is found to have broken the law.

But the Conservatives say Ms Rayner should publish the legal advice she says proves she has done nothing wrong.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer launched an attack on former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who this week published a book entitled Ten Years to Save the West.

The Labour leader joked that he was the "proud owner" of a copy, adding: "It is a rare unsigned copy. It is the only unsigned copy.

"It is quite the read. She claims the Tory Party's disastrous kamikaze budget that triggered chaos for millions was - her words - 'the happiest moment of her premiership'.

"Has the prime minister met anyone with a mortgage who agrees?"

To loud cheers from his his own side, Mr Sunak replied: "All I would say is he ought to spend a bit less time reading that book and a bit more time reading the deputy leader's [Angela Rayner] tax advice."

The Labour leader has said he is "fully confident" Ms Rayner has not broken any rules and welcomes the police inquiry as an opportunity to clear the matter up.

But he has come under fire from Conservatives for not asking to see the tax and legal advice Ms Rayner has received.

Sir Keir's spokesman said the Labour leader's team had seen the advice and it was "clear" that Ms Rayner had followed the rules at all times. He rejected claims Sir Keir had avoided reading the advice to protect himself.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68838701