Angela Rayner with Keir Starmer earlier this year.

Angela Rayner has quit the government following an investigation into her tax affairs found that she had broken the ministerial code.

The deputy prime minister and housing secretary handed in her resignation to Keir Starmer after his adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, published his findings.

She has also resigned as Labour’s deputy leader, triggering what could be a bitter election contest.

Sir Laurie’s probe was sparked after Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted she had not paid enough stamp duty when she bought a flat near Brighton in May.

Rayner’s living arrangements have been in the spotlight since it was reported last month that she had bought the £800,000 property in Hove.

She designated it as her primary residence, meaning she paid around £40,000 less in stamp duty than if it had been her second home.

However, a barrister who Rayner asked to examine the purchase had found that she should have paid the higher rate as the constituency home where her children live is still her main residence for tax purposes.

In his report to the PM, Sir Laurie said Rayner had twice been given written assurances that she........

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