Angela Rayner ‘failed to declare’ her on-off again boyfriend joined holiday funded by Labour donor
ANGELA Rayner failed to declare that her on-off again boyfriend Sam Tarry joined her on a personal holiday funded by Labour donor Lord Alli.
The revelation – reported in The Sunday Times – has sparked questions over whether she breached parliamentary rules by not telling the watchdog.
The deputy PM stayed at the $2.5 million New York apartment owned by Lord Alli – the Labour peer at the heart of the donor scandal – over Christmas and New Year.
Ms Rayner arrived on her own and was joined by Mr Tarry on New Year’s Eve. He paid for his flights but reportedly benefited from free accommodation.
He is the former Labour MP for Ilford South but was booted out of office by his local party.
MPs have to declare foreign trips which they – or someone connected to them – go on if it is funded by a donor and arises from their political activity.
Ms Rayner did not originally think she needed to declare the trip because she is close pals with Lord Alli, but changed her mind, it was reported.
She declared the visit from December 29 to January 2 2023, estimating it to be worth £1,250.
But some say the stay would have been worth more as the swanky apartment block boasts a three-storey gym with a jacuzzi and stunning views of Manhattan.
In Opposition Ms Rayner was one of the biggest critics of Boris Johnson accepting donations to pay for expensive new wallpaper in his Downing Street flat.
She furiously tweeted that wallpapergate showed “there’s a rot at the heart of this government”.
Ms Rayner and Mr Tarry did not respond to requests for comment.