Rayner promises to quit if convicted

Angela Rayner has this evening announced that she would quit if convicted of breaking electoral law, saying: ‘If I committed a criminal offence, I would of course do the right thing and step down. The British public deserves politicians who know the rules apply to them.’ This line follows the announcement earlier today that Greater Manchester Police were investigating whether she gave false information about her home address on official documents.

Rayner insisted once again that she was ‘completely confident I’ve followed the rules at all times’. This is the same approach that Keir Starmer took when being investigated over allegations that he broke lockdown rules: he said he would resign as Labour leader if he had been found to have broken the law, in part to create a contrast with Boris Johnson, who was fined for his attendance at a lockdown-breaking birthday celebration. 

Of course, saying anything at all means that Rayner has given a new line to a story that has already been big all day.