Angela Rayner speaks out after police investigation dropped as Sir Keir Starmer says she has been 'vindicated'

Angela Rayner says she welcomes the decision of police and Stockport Council to take no further action following an investigation into her living arrangements a decade ago. It comes as the Labour leader Sir Keir Stamer said he was pleased she had been '"vindicated."

Questions had been raised about whether the party's Deputy Leader owed tax on a former council house in Stockport she sold in 2015 - before she became MP for Ashton and whether the property was her main home for electoral purposes.

She had always denied any wrongdoing and said she would stand down if she was found to have broken the law. This afternoon (Tuesday), Greater Manchester Police said that following a 'a thorough, carefully considered and proportionate investigation' they had concluded that she would face no further action.

READ MORE: Angela Rayner council house investigation concludes - as GMP take no further action

The force said issues regarding person and council tax fell outside their jurisdiction and that they would share the findings of their investigation with Stockport Council and His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A spokesperson for Stockport Council has also said no further action would be taken by them.

Greater Manchester Police originally said Ms Rayner would not face an investigation following a 'investigative review' as there 'wasn't a case to answer'. However, they announced last month they would look into the matter again following a complaint from Tory Deputy Chairman and Bury North MP James Daly.

In a statement issued this evening (Tuesday), Ms Rayner said: "I welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, and confirmation that no further action will be taken.

“We have seen the Conservative Party use this playbook