British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after acknowledging that she underpaid property tax on a new home. This resignation marks a significant setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as Rayner is the eighth and most senior minister to leave his administration. Her departure is particularly damaging, coming after Starmer had publicly supported her when she was first accused of attempting to evade the correct tax rate.

In her resignation letter, Rayner, 45, stated, "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice... I take full responsibility for this error." Starmer expressed sadness over her resignation but agreed that it was the right decision.

Rayner's resignation comes at a challenging time for the Labour Party, which is currently trailing behind the populist Reform UK in the polls. Starmer faces increasing pressure to restore his authority and improve the party's image, which has been marred by accusations of hypocrisy regarding the acceptance of expensive gifts from donors.

Rayner, who has been seen as a potential successor to Starmer, played a crucial role in bridging the divide between the party's left and centrist factions. Her ability to unite these groups has been a key asset for Labour. She had recently referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards after admitting to the tax error.

In a tearful interview, Rayner shared her personal story, explaining that she set up a trust for one of her sons, who has lifelong disabilities due to an injury. To fund an apartment in Hove, she sold her share of the family home in northern England, mistakenly believing she would not incur the higher tax rate associated with purchasing a second home. After seeking further legal advice, she recognized her mistake and committed to paying the additional tax owed.

Rayner's resignation adds to the list of eight cabinet and junior ministers who have left Starmer's government, five of whom resigned due to wrongdoing. This situation has resulted in the highest number of ministerial departures at the start of a prime minister's tenure since at least 1979, surpassing even the number of resignations during Boris Johnson's administration, which was later embroiled in scandals related to COVID lockdown violations.

As Starmer prepares for a challenging end to the year, he must navigate the complexities of crafting a budget that is expected to include tax increases while also addressing the rising threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK.