UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Anjela Rayner, has resigned from her position over her failure to pay enough tax on a flat she bought in East Sussex.

In her resignation letter addressed to UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, on Friday, Mrs Rayner took responsibility for not paying appropriate tax on her property, regretting her “decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice given both my position as Housing Secretary and my complex family arrangements.”

Apologising for the error in her tax filing that has dominated public discussion for some weeks, Mrs Rayner said, “I have therefore decided to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.”

According to Mrs Rayner, on Wednesday she referred herself to Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, to conduct a thorough investigation into her personal financial circumstances after she became aware that it was likely she inadvertently paid the incorrect rate for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Admitting her error, Mrs Rayner said, “while the Independent Adviser has concluded that I acted in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout, I accept that I did not meet the highest standards in relation to my recent property purchase.”

Mrs Rayner purchased the said property in Hove for £800,000 (nearly $1.1 million) just a few months ago in May. She paid £30,000 ($40,000) instead of £70,000 (£94,000) based on advice.