Allies of Angela Rayner have defended the housing secretary's purchase of an £800,000 property on the south coast amid a tax hike on second homes.

Reports emerged over the weekend that the Ashton-under-Lyne MP had bought a seaside apartment in Hove, East Sussex.

The purchase has been described as Ms Rayner's 'third home' - although one of these properties is a 'grace-and-favour' flat at Admiralty House, in Whitehall, a ministerial residence which the Deputy Prime Minister can use, but does not own.

Sources close to Ms Rayner have now reportedly claimed she will be using the Hove property as a base while working in London - despite the seaside town being more than 50 miles from Westminster.

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The Telegraph reports that the pro

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