![\"Angela](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1890c7db-5aed-44f4-b4ce-29e0be908257.jpg.webp.webp\")
Image source, Reuters<\/p>\nRayner’s resignation and a cabinet reshuffle – how did we get here?published at 12:58 British Summer Time<\/p>\n
12:58 BST<\/p>\n
Image source, Reuters<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Angela Rayner was one of the most powerful figures in government. Within 24 hours, she had resigned and half of the cabinet had been given new titles.<\/p>\n
How did we get here?<\/p>\n
The week began with MPs returning to London after a summer break, with Starmer billing it the start of “phase two” of his government.<\/p>\n
At the time, there were swirling newspaper reports about the deputy PM having underpaid tax on a flat she had bought in May.<\/p>\n
Rayner’s team initially insisted she had paid the right amount, but sought legal advice. On Wednesday, she conceded she had not paid enough.<\/a><\/p>\n By Friday morning, after a week of growing pressure, the country was speculating Rayner’s political future.<\/p>\n A report from the PM’s ethics adviser later found<\/a> that, although Rayner had “acted with integrity”, she ultimately breached the ministerial code for not seeking expert tax advice. <\/p>\n Rayner resigned, writing in a letter that she took “full responsibility for this error” <\/a>and it was “never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount”.<\/p>\n