Another day, another development in the curious case of Angela Rayner’s tax affairs. Mr S last week reported that Rayner became the subject of a formal police investigation. Initially, this was thought to focus on a potential breach of electoral law. But it has subsequently emerged in the Times that the force investigating Rayner is also looking into whether she paid the correct capital gains tax on the sale of her former Stockport home. It never rains but it pours…

On Tuesday, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Steve Watson revealed on a local radio station that ‘there are a number of assertions knocking about’, and that the police ‘are going to get to the bottom of what has happened’. Another police source told the Times that the investigation was ‘very well resourced’, adding: ‘It’s not a single issue. There is a volume of material and a clear public interest to fully investigate.’ It is understood that there is at least a dozen GMP officers working on the case.

Rayner has repeatedly denied she has done anything wrong, calling the allegations a ‘stream of smears’ by her political opponents. The deputy Labour leader has even said she would resign if she is found to have done wrong and ‘welcomes the opportunity’ to speak to the authorities about the claims. Meanwhile Sir Keir Starmer has backed his deputy to the hilt – although he still hasn’t seen the legal advice she received on the matter herself.

Talk about ‘forensic’ eh?