Angela Rayner resigns from government after stamp duty row: UK politics live

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

At the end of Andrea Jenkyns’ address to the Reform conference, she commanded party activists to “stand up and be proud to be the party of the brave”.

In an episode that was indisputably cult-like in nature, she then got members to chant “Nigel Farage will be prime minister”.She closed off her address by shouting – to wild applause – “Reform will save Britain”.

The Reform UK leader has taken to the stage and started his speech which he brought forward to 1pm after Angela Rayner’s resignation.

Nigel Farage says the Rayner scandal “screams of entitlement…this government is worse than the one which went before.”

A major reshuffle is expected this afternoon after Angela Rayner’s resignation, according to reports.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to rejig his team after Ms Rayner’s departure, with only chancellor Rachel Reeves position understood to be safe.

The prime minister thinks he needs a “new refreshed team to deliver on the country’s key priorities”, as reported by The Times.

“Thank you for informing me of your decision to resign from the Government. I am very sad that your time as Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party has ended in this way.

“As you know we acted in accordance with the strengthened system relating to ministerial conduct that we put in place on coming into Government.

“You were right to refer yourself to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and right to act on his conclusion.

“Although I believe you have reached the right decision, it is a decision which I know is very painful for you. You have given your all to making the Labour Government a success and you have been a central part of our plan to make Britain fairer for working families.

“Your work at MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) to help build the homes that Britain needs has been hugely important and your work to create more fairness in the workplace through the Employment Rights Bill represents a very significant achievement that will change the lives of millions of people.

“On a personal note, I am very sad to be losing you from the Government. You have been a trusted colleague and a true friend for many years. I have nothing but admiration for you and huge respect for your achievements in politics.

“I know that many people of all political persuasions admire that someone as talented as you is the living embodiment of social mobility.

“Even though you won’t be part of the Government, you will remain a major figure in our party. I know you will continue to fight for the causes you care so passionately about.

“My very best wishes and with real sadness,

Nigel Farage has brought forward his leader’s speech at the Reform UK conference in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister.

The Reform leader will speak at 1pm, three hours earlier than previously expected.

Mr Farage has said there will be “splits” within Labour when it begins the process to elect a new deputy leader.

In a video posted on X, Mr Farage said: “It was inevitable, wasn’t it? Really, you can’t be Housing Secretary and avoid £40,000 worth of stamp duty. It’s just as simple as that.

“So, in the last few minutes, Angela Rayner has gone, but not just as Housing Secretary.

“Now, more significantly, she’s gone as deputy leader of the Labour party and Deputy Prime Minister.

“That means there will be an internal election within the Labour party, and you’re going to see the hard left of Labour shouting very, very loudly for the last few years, the story has been splits within the Conservative Party.

“Mark my words: Within weeks, it’ll be splits within the Labour party.”

The Independent’s Archie Mitchell reports:

If you asked anyone in Labour circles before Wednesday who was Sir Keir Starmer’s most likely successor, the chances are they would have said Angela Rayner.

The deputy prime minister was a cabinet favourite with members and a darling of Labour’s trade union backers.

But in a dramatic development on Friday, Ms Rayner was forced to resign – not only as housing secretary, but also as deputy prime minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party, a position elected by the party membership.

Sir Keir Starmer told Angela Rayner he was “very sad” that her time in government had come to an end and that he had “nothing but admiration” for her.

In a letter responding to her resignation, the Prime Minister said: “I am very sad that your time as deputy prime minister, secretary of state and deputy leader of the Labour Party has ended in this way.

“As you know we acted in accordance with the strengthened system relating to ministerial conduct that we put in place on coming into government.”

He said she was right to have referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.

Sir Keir said: “Although I believe you have reached the right decision, it is a decision which I know is very painful for you.

“You have given your all to making the Labour Government a success and you have been a central part of our plan to make Britain fairer for working families.”

He added: “On a personal note, I am very sad to be losing you from the Government. You have been a trusted colleague and a true friend for many years.

“I have nothing but admiration for you and huge respect for your achievements in politics. I know that many people of all political persuasions admire that someone as talented as you is the living embodiment of social mobility.

“Even though you won’t be part of the Government, you will remain a major figure in our party.”

Angela Rayner has resigned after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on the purchase of her £800,000 seaside flat.

The deputy prime minister, who on Wednesday referred herself to Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser, insisted she made a mistake based on the advice she received at the time.

And, after receiving the report’s conclusion, Ms Rayner has the has quit her roles as housing secretary and deputy prime minister, as well as her role as deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Who could replace her as deputy prime minister?

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox writes:

When Angela Rayner’s resignation went up on the centrally placed GB News stand at the Reform conference in Birmingham there were cheers.Reform members in their new football shirts and caps started high fiving one another.

“They’re almost finished,” one Reform member said of the Labour government.“We’ll be in power in a year,” said another optimistically.

The chaos outside the conference has only fuelled a growing sense of optimism of the people here at the NEC.