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Angela Rayner breaks silence after police investigation concludes ‘no further action’ will be taken

GMP has now concluded its investigation into the Deputy Labour leader and Ashton-under-Lyne MP.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 29th May 2024

Angela Rayner has spoken out in reaction to a police investigation into her conduct concluding that “no further action” will be taken.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, had been under investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) since 12 April 2024, following initial media reports into her primary registered legal residence potentially breaching electoral rules, which were then back up by complaints made to the police service by James Daly – who is the Conservative MP for Bury North.

Stockport-born Rayner repeatedly denied the claims and reports, and said GMP had initially decided against looking into them, Sky News reports.

This was until Mr Daly provided “claims from neighbours”, which prompted police to investigate.

Following what was described as a “thorough, carefully-considered, and proportionate” police investigation, GMP released a formal statement yesterday concluding that it would be taken no further action into Ms Rayner’s alleged conduct.

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The statement provided by a GMP spokesperson reads in full: “Following allegations about Angela Rayner MP, Greater Manchester Police has completed a thorough, carefully considered, and proportionate investigation

“We have concluded that no further police action will be taken. 

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“The investigation originated from complaints made by Mr James Daly MP directly to GMP. Subsequent further contact with GMP by members of the public, and claims made by individuals featured in media reporting, indicated a strong public interest in the need for allegations to be investigated.

“Matters involving council tax and personal tax do not fall into the jurisdiction of policing. GMP has liaised with Stockport Council and information about our investigation has been shared with them. Details of our investigation have also been shared with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).”

Angela Rayner has broken her silence after a police investigation has concluded / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Since GMP’s conclusion that “no further police action will be taken” yesterday, there has been a growing number of calls, both from opposition and on social media, for HMRC to take matters from here and begin conducting its own investigation, following police claiming information has been shared with the authority.

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Angela Rayner has also broken her silence and spoken out for the first time following the conclusion of the police investigation.

She has thanked those “stood by” and “supported” her.

Taking to X yesterday evening to address the outcome of the investigation, Ms Rayner wrote: “The Tories’ desperate tactics have been exposed for what they are and for all to see.

“They’ve failed once again.

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“I am grateful to all those who have stood by and supported me. My focus now is on securing the change Britain needs, with the election of a Labour government.”

Featured Image – Flickr

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‘Powerful’ new BBC documentary to tell the stories of the Southport victims’ families

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Southport attack victims

The BBC is set to tell the stories of the Southport attack victims’ families in a powerful new documentary airing next month.

The Southport attack was a tragedy that hit the nation like no other last summer, and the new hour-long documentary, titled Our Girls: The Southport Families, follows the parents of three young girls – nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe – who tragically lost their lives in the process.

Last summer, the three little girls had excitedly gone to a Taylor Swift-themed dance class – but tragically, they never came home.

Over the last nine months, a small team from the BBC followed the families’ journey through unimaginable grief and the beginnings of hope, and now their deeply personal interviews are to be shown alongside family footage shared for the first time.

Producers say the ‘moving’ documentary will show the joy the girls brought, and the legacies the parents are now building in their memory.

Set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early December, viewers will get to watch as the parents plan to create lasting legacies in their daughters’ names – Alice’s Wonderdance, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story.

It will also show the parents’ fundraising efforts to build a playground at the school attended by two of the girls, which they hope will become a space for ‘joy, remembrance, and community’.

“This inspirational film is a heartfelt tribute to Alice, Bebe and Elsie, told through the voices of those who knew and loved them most,” explained Richard Frediani, who is the Executive Editor at BBC Breakfast and BBC News.

“It is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the strength of three families united in grief and now driven by purpose to ensure their names are never forgotten.”

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Sarah Campbell, who is a BBC News correspondent, added: “Our hope is that people will take from their story that it is possible to find light and humanity in the darkest of times.”

Our Girls: The Southport Families will air on BBC One on Tuesday 9 December at 8pm, and will later be available on iPlayer.

Featured Image – Merseyside Police

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NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter as ‘damaging’ strikes begin

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The NHS has claimed it’s currently the ‘busiest it has ever been’ as we head into the winter.

While it has been revealed that the health service’s waiting list is 230,000 lower than this time last summer, and down 15,845 compared to the previous month, figures released this week show that the NHS is ‘approaching its limit’ as we head into winter – with A&E, ambulances, and more all facing record demand.

As the colder months edge closer, and a likely spike in flu cases is expected in the coming weeks, the NHS says it’s the ‘busiest it has ever been’.

It also comes during what officials are describing as ‘damaging’ industrial action.

Last month, both A&E attendances and ambulance incidents were at a record high for October, with A&E attendances at 37,000 higher than October 2024, equating to over 1,200 more attendances per day this October. 

Ambulance incidents also jumped nearly 50,000 compared with October last year (806,441), the NHS has confirmed.

“It is fantastic news that the health service managed to get the waiting list down in September, but there’s no doubt NHS staff will be approaching their limits this winter,” commented Professor Meghana Pandit, who is the NHS National Medical Director.

Patient in a hospital bed
The NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter amid ‘damaging’ strikes / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)

“Flu is peaking early and looking like it will be long lasting, while industrial action comes on the back of the busiest October in A&E in NHS history.

“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and, as ever, the public can play their part.”

Despite the health service being stretched during this time, the public are still advised to attend any planned appointments that are scheduled during the ongoing strikes, unless they have been contacted to reschedule.

Primary and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them.

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The public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during industrial action so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs, but patients who do need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.

Featured Image – Pxhere

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