BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) -
 British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after saying she deeply regretted her mistake of underpaying property tax on a new home, in a damaging blow for her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
After Britain’s independent adviser ruled that she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct tax, there was little Starmer could do to protect his deputy, saying he was “very sad to be losing you from the government”, describing her as a “trusted colleague and a true friend”.
Rayner, 45, is the eighth, and the most senior, ministerial departure from Starmer’s team, and the most damaging yet after the British leader offered her his full support when she was first accused of avoiding 40,000 pounds ($54,000) in tax on the transaction.
Starmer has now suffered the most ministerial resignations, outside government reshuffles, of any prime minister at the beginning of their tenure in almost 50 years - more even than Boris Johnson in his chaotic period in office.
“I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice... I take full responsibility for this error,” she said in her letter to Starmer.
The independent adviser on ministerial standards ruled Rayner had broken the code because she had failed to heed the warning within the legal advice - which she said she had relied on - to seek expert advice on her complicated financial situation.
“It is with deep regret that I must advise you that in these circumstances, I consider the Code to have been breached,” he said, referring to rules to make sure the conduct of politicians meet the standards of public service.
Rayner had been forced to refer herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards on Wednesday after admitting that she had made a mistake over the tax payment.