Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has referred herself to the standards advisor.

After weeks of speculation, Angela Rayner seems to have handed her rivals a win by admitting she did not pay the full amount of stamp duty on her new property.

The deputy prime minister – who is also the housing secretary – came under scrutiny last month when it was revealed she had bought a second home by the coast for £800,000.

They are in addition to the grace-and-favour Admiralty House in Whitehall, which she uses in her capacity as deputy PM.

Here’s why this tax revelation is a major moment, and why Rayner’s political future is now in serious doubt.

What’s happened?

Second home purchase

Rayner’s primary residence was previously believed to be her constituency home in Ashton-under-Lyne, in Greater Manchester.

It then emerged that she had purchased a second home in Hove for £800,000.

That alone is not problematic, although her critics accused her of hypocrisy for having two homes in a housing crisis.

They also questioned her purchase, considering she is preparing to hike council tax on second properties.

Tax questions emerge

The Telegraph then reported that Rayner had removed her name from the deed of her Greater Manchester house a few weeks before buying her new flat.

That means she would have avoided the £70,000 stamp duty bill she would have paid if the new Hove flat was her second home.

By listing it as her primary residence, it’s thought she was able to pay just £30,000 in stamp duty instead.

Stamp duty land tax is the amount a property buyer........

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