As with most political scandals, the warmth within the Angela Rayner housing row is much less in regards to the (alleged) crime and extra in regards to the (alleged) cover-up.
Or, to place it one other method, that is all about how sincere and clear the Labour deputy chief has been in responding to allegations about her residing preparations a decade in the past.
The rebuttal from Ms Rayner proper from the start has been (to paraphrase) “that is all a giant Tory smear, the home at Vicarage Street was my major residence, nothing to see right here”.
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Better Manchester Police’s newly-reopened investigation might hinge on whether or not officers imagine that was certainly the case.
In the event that they discover it wasn’t, it is onerous to think about a very harsh judicial penalty being handed down.
However there would nonetheless be a considerable political worth to pay, as it might demolish the defence of the Labour deputy chief and name into query her honesty.
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For a politician identified for her simple and unvarnished method – who has typically been on the entrance foot chastising Conservatives for all method of indiscretions – a humbling like which will show too extreme to outlive.
Alternatively, a clear invoice of well being from the police might lastly bury this story for Labour by placing Ms Rayner within the clear.
However even when that later level is reached, it appears the celebration and its second most senior determine have – on the very least – a couple of extra days of adverse protection forward.
