Britain’s left-wing Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is facing intense criticism after reports revealed she has purchased a third home worth nearly $1 million—while presiding over the country’s worsening housing crisis.
Rayner, who also serves as housing minister and is a self-described socialist, reportedly bought a luxury seaside apartment in Brighton for £700,000 ($947,000) earlier this year. This new property joins her ministerial flat in London and a £650,000 ($879,000) home in her Greater Manchester constituency.
The revelation comes as millions of Britons struggle to afford their first homes, with the UK short by an estimated 6.5 million properties, according to the Centre for Policy Studies. Meanwhile, home building has slowed to its lowest point in nearly a decade under the Labour government, despite Rayner’s public vow to deliver 1.5 million new homes.
Rayner’s lavish purchase is raising eyebrows, especially among working-class voters who once identified with her humble background on a Manchester council estate. Critics argue that her lifestyle now contradicts the image she projects.
Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly condemned Rayner’s refusal to clarify key details, including her property holdings and tax arrangements. “Angela Rayner is responsible for housing policy, yet she won’t even be straight about her own,” he told the Mail on Sunday. “Now we find out she’s got three homes… This is the same Deputy Prime Minister who has hiked taxes on family homes across the country.”
Rayner also previously faced scrutiny for accepting thousands of pounds in gifts from Labour megadonor Lord Ali, including nearly £4,000 in free clothing. Questions remain over whether she flipped her primary residence to avoid paying higher council tax—an issue she has yet to address publicly.
