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A lump sum, equivalent of 25% of the annual ministerial salary, is payable when a minister stops holding office. Departing ministers who are aged over 65 or are reappointed within three weeks do not qualify.<\/p>\n
The 2025\/26 accounts for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government record the severance payment for Rayner.<\/p>\n
In her first interview since returning to government, Rayner was pressed on whether she would return the money.<\/p>\n
She told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live: “No, my severance payment was given to me at the time, I had worked in government for a period of time and then I came out of government for just under a year.”<\/p>\n
She added: “I will be delivering in government again.”<\/p>\n
Rayner earlier said her criticism of the Conservatives over severance payments came at a time when there was a “revolving door” which saw ministers return to government “after 40-odd days”.<\/p>\n
The Conservatives earlier this week said Rayner had “quit in disgrace and took a \u00a317k payout” last year.<\/p>\n
The party added: “Now she’s got her old job back, will she return the cash? Or is it one rule for Labour, and another for everyone else?”<\/p>\n
Rayner’s departure last September came after the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, said she had “acted with integrity” but concluded that she had breached the ministerial code.<\/p>\n
Sir Laurie said she did get legal advice when buying the property, but failed to seek further expert tax advice as recommended.<\/p>\n
In May, Rayner resolved her tax affairs with HMRC following an investigation, settling \u00a340,000 in unpaid stamp duty.<\/p>\n
The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne said she had been “exonerated” of the accusation that she had “deliberately sought to avoid tax”.<\/p>\n
Rayner told Matt Chorley: “The situation I went through last year was really difficult, it was difficult for my family, but I felt I’d let people down and I never want to let people down, I want to fight for them.”<\/p>\n
Rayner also said she has “unfinished business” in government, including on building council houses and supporting local government.<\/p>\n
Burnham has said he wants to deliver “the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period”.<\/p>\n
Asked for details to explain what this will look like, Rayner said she would not provide an “exact figure” or provide a date for when she considers the post-war period to have ended.<\/p>\n
She said: “We want to aspire to get as far as possible and what we’ve done as a government is put more investment in that, the \u00a339bn for social and affordable housing grant funding that we want to get out the door.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n