Angela Rayner has promised to resign as deputy leader of the Labour Party if she is found to have committed an offence amid a row over the sale of her former council house home.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP spoke out about the situation after Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was looking into claims Rayner gave false information about where she was living a decade ago.
Rayner, who denies the allegations, said: “I’ve repeatedly said I would welcome the chance to sit down with the appropriate authorities, including the police and HMRC, to set out the facts and draw a line under this matter.
"I am completely confident I’ve followed the rules at all times.
“I have always said that integrity and accountability are important in politics. That’s why it’s important that this is urgently looked at, independently and without political interference.
“I make no apologies for having held Conservative ministers to account in the past.
"Indeed, the public would rightly expect me to do so as a Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
“We have seen the Tory Party use this playbook before – reporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their record.
"I will say as I did before - if I committed a criminal offence, I would of course do the right thing and step down.
"The British public deserves politicians who know the rules apply to them.
“The questions raised relate to a time before I was an MP and I have set out my family’s circumstances and taken expert tax and legal advice.
"I look forward to setting out the facts with the relevant authorities at the earliest opportunity.”
Labour's deputy leader broke her silence on the scandal after Sir Keir Starmer said he welcomed Greater Manchester Police's probe.
In a new statement, a GMP spokesperson said it was “investigating whether any offences have been committed”.
The Leader of the Opposition claimed it would allow a “line to be drawn” on the issue.
However, Starmer was unable to say whether or not Rayner should quit if she is found to have broken the law.
He said: "I am fully confident that Angela Rayner has not broken the rules.
"She will cooperate with the investigation as you would expect."
