Andy Burnham has confirmed he will not be involved in the police investigation into Angela Rayner, amid concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who also acts as the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Manchester, was encouraged not to take a "public position" on the case.
His role as PCC gives him political oversight of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the force investigating the Shadow Deputy Prime Minister.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed last week that they are investigating the Shadow Deputy Prime Minister after she was reported to the police by Tory MP James Daly, amid allegations she may have given false information about where she was living.
Andy Burnham will not be involved in the police investigation into Angela Rayner, as a result of concerns about a potential conflict of interest
PA
A spokesperson for the force said: “We’re investigating whether any offences have been committed. This follows a reassessment of the information provided to us by Mr Daly.”
The deputy Labour leader is embroiled in a row over whether or not she should have been liable to pay capital gains tax when she sold a house in 2015.
Asked if Burnham would commit to not taking a public stance on the investigation, a spokesperson for the mayor told the Telegraph: "In line with established practice and for the avoidance of doubt, neither the Mayor nor the deputy mayor have had, nor will have, any involvement in this investigation."
They added: "It is a purely operational matter for GMP."
Rayner registered the former council house in Stockport as her main address on the electoral register, meaning she was not liable to pay capital gains tax on the £48,000 profit.
The police had initially said that the Labour MP would not face an investigation over claims she gave false information about her primary address on the electoral roll in a statement earlier this month.
But Daly wrote to the police and argued that officers appeared not to have contacted witnesses or looked at the electoral roll or other relevant documents.
The Bury North MP alleged she may have made a false declaration about where she was living on the electoral register.
Rayner has maintained that there has been “no wrongdoing” and “no unlawfulness”.
She told the BBC: “I’ve been very clear there’s no rules broken. They [the Conservatives] tried to manufacture a police investigation … I got tax advice which says there was no capital gains tax. It’s a non-story manufactured to try and smear me.”
The deputy Labour leader is embroiled in a row over whether or not she should have been liable to pay capital gains tax when she sold a house in 2015
PA
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The MP for Asthon-under-Lyne said she "lived there, paid the bills there and was registered to vote there" until she sold the property in 2015.
The revelation of her £48,000 profit on the sale of her home was first revealed by Lord Michael Ashcroft in his book.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Friday said “nobody is interested” in questions about Rayner’s tax affairs.
