Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has admitted she did not pay the correct tax when buying a property in Hove, and has now referred herself to the Prime Minister’s independent ethics adviser. The admission follows weeks of questions over her financial affairs. Rayner says she relied on legal advice at the time of her purchase but has since been told that advice was wrong, leaving her liable for more stamp duty. Critics point out that most people would face strict penalties from HMRC if they underpaid tax, regardless of whether they relied on professional advice. Others note this is not the first time Rayner has had to correct her public statements — recalling her denial of attending a lockdown gathering in Durham until video evidence later emerged.