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Cops contact Angela Rayner as investigation begins into two-home tax claims
Labour's deputy leader will likely be quizzed under caution by police
POLICE have contacted Labour’s Angela Rayner to arrange a date for officers to quiz her about her two-homes tax controversy.
The party’s deputy leader will be questioned over claims she breached electoral law, failed to pay capital gains tax and falsely received single-occupancy council tax discount.
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Greater Manchester Police launched an inquiry last month into claims the politician had tried to dodge paying tax.
It centres around Ms Rayner’s former council home in Stockport, which she claimed was her main residence when she sold it in 2015, meaning she avoided paying capital gains tax of up to £3,500.
The Sun on Sunday understands detectives leading the investigation have contacted the office of the Ashton-under-Lyne MP to arrange an interview and agree a date for it.
Ms Rayner is likely to be invited to attend a police station voluntarily and interviewed under caution rather than be arrested.
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A source said: “There is a lot of information already in the public domain so there is no need to be heavy-handed.
“The police are more interested in gathering all the information they can, and having Angela come in and speak to them.
“They will then take a view on where the investigation goes from there once they have assessed the evidence.”
If officers feel there is a strong enough case of wrongdoing, they will hand a file to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers, who will then decide if there is a realistic prospect of a conviction before bringing a charge.
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Labour said: “Angela has been clear that she will cooperate with any investigation.
The Sun's Harry Cole questions Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting about Angela Rayner's tax affairs
“We do not plan to give a running commentary.
"We remain completely confident that Angela has complied with the rules at all times and it’s now appropriate to let the police do their work.”
Ms Rayner has promised to resign if she is found guilty of a criminal offence.