Newly elected Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, caused a major stir when her financial disclosure and custody status became public. After a long struggle in the US courts, Rayner applied directly to the court and was able to have the restrictions lifted. She was not able to discuss specifics around her personal life. This release gave her an opportunity to explain in detail the highly unusual circumstances around her late family home, trust set-up, and recent property sales to the public.
In 2023, Rayner put her share of the family home into a trust. This trust was created in 2020 after her son’s emergency delivery experience as a premature newborn. This legally-mandated trust was the linchpin in her family’s planning. It was both their residence and workplace for over a decade. In January 2025, she sold her remaining interest in the property to her son’s trust.
We know Rayner has already admitted that she paid too little stamp duty when she bought an £800,000 flat in Hove recently. She calculates that this underpayment could be as high as £40,000 over what she ought to have paid. She sold her share of her Ashton house and got a check. She was then able to use that money to serve as a down payment for the new property.
The former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party has gone to great lengths to be open and public about these new financial disclosures. She showed her independence of mind by referring herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards. She further pledged to cooperate in every way possible by granting access to all relevant information. This decision was undoubtedly influenced by her desire to maintain a standard of reputation in her political life with increasing rumors surrounding her home life.
Rayner’s family life had already been placed under the microscope after Rayner divorced her ex-husband in 2023. The couple had lived together in their family home before splitting up. This ruling led to inquiries into where they lived and what impact it would have on their children. Rayner found the media’s fascination with her family life to be disturbing. Now, allowed to speak freely with the court-imposed injunction lifted, she opened up as never before.
In March 2025, Rayner bought a new home in Hove. This was a big victory, especially as she was moving towards her post-divorce life. She decided to relocate for personal and financial reasons. This decision gave her the chance to invest in a new home while artfully balancing the drama of her newfound familial landscape.
Angela Rayner goes on the offensive to defuse worries over sordid financial scandal and shocking home life. As her actions attest, the state of play has changed. She enthusiastically engages with their independent adviser on ministerial standards. By showing her housing journey on social media, Shana wants to demystify what is going on in her personal life and professional career.