Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary, after admitting she did not pay enough stamp duty on her second home.

Rayner, 45, is also understood to be quitting as deputy leader of the Labour Party, an elected post.

The mother-of-three from Stockport admitted she should have paid more stamp duty on a £800,000 home she bought in Hove, East Sussex, as it was her second property.

Rayner's resignation follows an investigation into her tax affairs by an independent ethics advisor.

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer received the report by Sir Laurie Magnus on Friday morning (September 5).

Sir Laurie Magnus said: "Ms Rayner failed to pay the correct rate of SDLT [stamp duty] on this purchase, particularly given her status and responsibilities as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and as Deputy Prime Minister.

"She believed that she relied on the legal advice she had received, but unfortunately did not heed the caution contained within it, which acknowledged that it did not constitute expert tax advice and which suggested that expert advice be sought.

"I believe Ms Rayner has acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service.

"I consider, however, that her unfortunate failure to settle her SDLT liability at the correct level, coupled with the fact that this was established only following intensive public scrutiny, leads me to advise you that, in relation to this matter, she cannot be considered to have met the "highest possible standards of proper conduct" as envisaged by the Code.

"Accordingly, it is with deep regret that I must advise you that in these circumstances, I consider the Code to have been breached."

Rayner, who grew up on a council estate in Stockport, first became an MP in 2015 and made history by becoming the first woman to hold the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency.

In her resignation letter, Rayner said she "deeply regret[s]" her decision not to seek additional specialist tax advice given her position in the government and her "complex" personal situation.

"I take full responsibility for this error, " she continued.

"I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount."