Angela Rayner is pictured attending the National Growth Debate at the Institute of Directors in London on April 21, 2026.Carl Court/Getty Images

Potential UK leadership contender Angela Rayner cleared in tax probe – POLITICO

14 May 2026, 05:53 by Annabelle Dickson · POLITICO

LONDON — Angela Rayner has been cleared of wrongdoing in a tax investigation, removing a potential hurdle to any bid to become the next leader of the ruling Labour Party.

The former deputy prime minister told the Guardian newspaper and ITV News that the U.K. tax authority HMRC concluded she “didn’t try to avoid paying tax” or “wasn’t careless in the way in which I conducted myself” following an investigation into unpaid property tax, which was launched last fall.

It comes at a crucial time, with Keir Starmer’s leadership under threat. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is widely expected to launch a leadership challenge against the prime minister as soon as Thursday.