Fresh blow for Angela Rayner as former aide writes to cops contradicting her claim over council house row

ANGELA Rayner is ­facing a fresh blow after a former aide wrote to cops contradicting her claim over her council house row.

Labour’s deputy leader is being investigated by police over claims she broke election law over her former home.

She was registered at her house in Stockport, but neighbours say she lived elsewhere with her then husband.

Now it has emerged her ex-staffer Matt Finnegan has written to Greater Manchester Police to say her main home was with her husband.

According to The Sunday Times, his letter states: “There was no doubt in my mind that this was Ms Rayner’s family home, where she lived with her then husband Mark.

“I remember it quite vividly because Ms Rayner was not at home at first and I had to wait for some time in my car before she eventually arrived.

“It was also memorable in it was the first and only time I visited her home in my voluntary work for her.”

He left her employment with a £20,000 payout and a non-disclosure agreement after accusing her of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The development came with Sir Keir Starmer under massive pressure to suspend Ms Rayner from his top team while cops probe her.

Tory vice-chairman Jonathan Gullis said: “The Angela ­Rayner saga raises serious questions about Sir Keir’s ability to lead his own party, let alone the country.

“If he displays this level of wilful blindness, how can be trusted to make a decision on anything? It’s about time he got his head out of the sand.”

Tory MP Tom Hunt said: “This investigation could take months. Starmer needs to dismiss her from the frontbench.”

Ms Rayner is also accused of not paying up to £3,500 in capital gains tax when she sold the home in 2015.

But Shadow Levelling-Up Minister Jim McMahon branded the row a “storm in a teacup”.

He also suggested she should dodge scrutiny because she is a Northern, working-class woman.

Ms Rayner has said she will quit if found guilty of a ­criminal offence.