UK DPM resigns over tax mistake

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after saying she deeply regretted her mistake of underpaying property tax on a new home, in a damaging blow for her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

After Britain's independent adviser ruled that she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct tax, there was little Starmer could do to protect his deputy, saying he was "very sad to be losing you from the government", describing her as a "trusted colleague and a true friend".

Rayner, 45, is the eighth, and the most senior, ministerial departure from Starmer's team, and the most damaging yet, after the British leader offered her his full support when she was first accused of avoiding 40,000 pounds in tax on the transaction.

Starmer has now suffered the most ministerial resignations, outside government reshuffles, of any prime minister at the beginning of their tenure in almost 50 years — more even than Boris Johnson in his chaotic period in office.

"I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice... I take full responsibility for this error," she said in her letter to Starmer.

"Given the findings and the impact on my family, I have therefore decided to resign," said Rayner, who also stepped down as a minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party.