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 suffere

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