Deputy Minister Angela Rayner under fire for apparent hypocrisy, as news breaks that her partner is employed by a lobbying group, whose client had recently received a significant cash influx from the Labour party.

In a series of revelations, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has found herself at the centre of a political storm, with critics questioning her partner's lobbying activities and her own tax practices.

Sam Tarry, Ms Rayner's partner, is an adviser at Henham Strategy, a consultancy group that has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), which falls under the Deputy PM's brief. The company has also advised on legislative strategy and bill amendments, and has made persuasive cases for the government.

Henham Strategy has received almost £300,000 in exceptional funding from the current government, and one of its clients was Great South West, which paid the firm £45,000 last year. Great South West, a group of councils and business partnerships in the South West of England, was given £280,000 of exceptional funding last year by the government and has ties with Henham Strategy.

The lobbying firm has also advised companies including Amazon and Uber between 2021 and 2023 in connection with the office of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Ms Rayner's partner, Sam Tarry, was never a cabinet member but was an MP and the Shadow Minister for buses and local transport until July 2022. He then moved to work for the lobbying group.

The controversy surrounding Ms Rayner's partner's lobbying activities has led to accusations of hypocrisy, with Kevin Hollinrake, Tory Party chairman, leading the charge. He has criticised Ms Rayner for her 'hypocrisy' regarding her partner's lobbying activities, particularly as she had previously promised to end lobbying jobs related to ministerial offices.

Furthermore, Ms Rayner has been criticised for potentially avoiding £40,000 in stamp duty by telling the taxman that her new £800,000 property in Hove was her main home, while her primary residence was listed as the constituency home in Ashton-under-Lyne. The latest scandal surrounds Ms Rayner's use of a wealth protection firm, Shoosmiths, in a house deal, which has led to accusations of tax avoidance.

Ms Rayner's expanded property portfolio now includes a £800,000 seaside apartment in Hove, a £650,000 house in her constituency, and a three-bedroom grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House, Whitehall.

The Tories have also demanded to know whether the arrangement with the Shoosmiths Trust Corporation offered any inheritance tax advantages for Ms Rayner's family.

Amidst these allegations, Ms Rayner has been accused of not being wholly transparent about the work her boyfriend undertook while working at Henham Strategy, which could have resulted in a conflict of interest.

The firm Henham Strategy, where Sam Tarry works, is on the national register of consultant lobbyists. Ms Rayner has yet to respond to these allegations in detail.

Deputy Minister Angela Rayner under fire for apparent hypocrisy, as news breaks that her partner is employed by a lobbying group, whose client had recently received a significant cash influx from the Labour party.