Labour MP Angela Rayner received £20,000 for a two-hour speaking engagement at a property industry conference last month, according to her recent disclosure in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Rayner spoke at the Propertymark One event held at Excel London, drawing attention given her recent resignation as housing secretary amid a stamp duty payment controversy.

In May, Rayner settled a £40,000 tax liability with HM Revenue & Customs related to unpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex, following an official investigation. The settlement came shortly before the disclosure of her paid appearance at the property conference.

Rayner’s acceptance of the speaking fee has sparked debate considering her previous criticisms of MPs holding external interests. While serving in Opposition, she condemned Conservative MPs for receiving payments outside their parliamentary roles, stating: “Being an MP isn’t a second job. It is the job. Labour will put an end to this racket.”

The Labour MP’s recent actions have prompted questions about the consistency of her stance on outside earnings by parliamentarians. The payment for her conference talk, which came after the stamp duty dispute came to light, contrasts with her earlier position on financial transparency and propriety for elected officials.

At the time of the tax settlement, Rayner stepped down from her ministerial role but remained a sitting MP. There has been no official comment yet on her recent speaking engagement or how the payment aligns with Labour’s stated policies on MPs’ outside income.