Politics Weekly UK Flags, flats and Labour in trouble (again)
Sep 3, 2025
In this discussion, Kiran Stacey, the Guardian's policy editor, and Gaby Hinsliff, a political columnist, dive into Labour's shaky return after summer recess. They analyze the controversy surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's tax situation and its implications for the party. The duo also talks about Labour's challenges with identity politics, the impact of rising populism, and the meaning behind the surge of British flags in the public sphere. Their insights reveal the complex relationship between patriotism and public trust in governance today.
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Rayner's Stamp Duty Complication
- Angela Rayner bought a flat in Hove for £800,000 and declared it as her only property for stamp duty purposes.
- Complex trust terms meant she may have underpaid about £40,000 in stamp duty, prompting a self-referral to the ethics adviser.
Standards Promise Raises Stakes
- The political cost of tax mistakes is amplified when a party campaigns on higher standards.
- Rayner's prior property controversy and family circumstances make this especially sensitive for Labour.
Flags Visible Outside London
- John Harris and Gaby Hinsliff report seeing St George's and Union Jack flags widely on motorways and town bridges outside London.
- The flag displays were especially visible across the Midlands and northern motorway bridges during late August.