UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has admitted to making a tax error on a property purchase, saying she is “devastated” by the situation.

Speaking on a Sky News podcast on Wednesday, September 3, Rayner revealed that she failed to pay the correct stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove, southern England. She attributed the mistake to “inaccurate legal advice” and confirmed she has already reported herself to the government’s ethics adviser and notified tax authorities.

“I’ve been in shock, really, because I thought I’d done everything properly,” the 45-year-old said. “I relied on the advice that I received, and I’m devastated because I’ve always upheld the rules and always felt proud to do that.”

Reports allege she avoided paying £40,000 in stamp duty by removing her name from the deeds of another property, making the Hove flat her only property at the time. Rayner explained that her lawyers failed to consider her full personal circumstances, including a trust fund set up for her disabled son, which led to the underpayment.

The controversy sparked questions about whether she should resign, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to her defence in parliament. He praised her transparency, saying, “She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. She’s gone over above and in setting out the details. I’m proud to sit alongside her.”

Rayner, who rose from a challenging background after leaving school with no qualifications at 16, has become one of Labour’s most influential voices and is often seen as a potential future leader.