Sir Keir Starmer has hit out against people “briefing against” Angela Rayner as questions continue to swirl over her tax affairs following the purchase of a flat in Hove.

The Prime Minister said that the Deputy Prime Minister had had people “talking her down over and over again” throughout her career but that briefing against her was a “mistake”.

It comes amid claims that Labour rivals have been briefing against Rayner’s housing arrangements to dent her future leadership prospects.

Rayner has been facing questions over the purchase of an £800,000 seafront apartment in Hove after it was alleged that she saved £40,000 in stamp duty by declaring it as her main residence.

Her constituency home in Ashton-under-Lynne in Tameside had previously been classed as her main residence, but week

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