
Keir Starmer is facing one of the most serious challenges of his political career after a late-night report suggested that he may have avoided paying inheritance tax when land was passed to his parents. The story, first teased by Sunday Times journalist Gabriel Pogrand and supported by tax expert Dan Needle, claims the prime minister used a trust arrangement to ensure his parents’ estate would not face a large tax bill.
Downing Street has been asked about these claims for weeks but has so far refused to give any answers. GB News also approached Number 10 for comment, but again no reply was given. The Sunday Times is expected to release the full details in its Sunday edition, but already legal experts are saying there could be serious questions about whether the prime minister acted fairly, even if what he did was technically legal.
The timing of the allegations could not be worse for Labour. The party conference begins tomorrow, and instead of being able to set out policies and present unity, Starmer is likely to face fierce criticism and questions over his own integrity. The scandal echoes the downfall of Angela Rayner, who resigned earlier this year after her own financial affairs came under scrutiny. Many will now ask how Starmer can survive a controversy so similar to the one that forced his deputy out of office.
The issue of inheritance tax has long been sensitive across the country, especially among farmers. Many families have struggled under the weight of inheritance tax bills when trying to pass on land and businesses to the next generation. In some tragic cases, lives have been lost under the strain. If it turns out that the prime minister himself managed to avoid such a burden, anger will be widespread, and the accusations of hypocrisy could stick.
Gabriel Pogrand himself made the issue clear in a tweet, asking whether Starmer gave land to his parents via a trust that guaranteed their estate, of which he was a beneficiary, so that inheritance tax would never have to be paid on its full value. He added that Number 10 has failed to provide straightforward answers despite having had weeks to do so.
This latest story adds to a string of problems already hanging over the government. From questions over Peter Mandelson’s links and his removal as ambassador, to the resignation of Angela Rayner, to other recent controversies involving senior Labour figures, the prime minister’s leadership has looked far from stable. Critics say he has often been described as “Teflon Keir” because scandals have not managed to bring him down. The question now is whether this inheritance tax story is the one that finally sticks.
In both Westminster and Washington, political commentators are already considering what comes next. Some suggest that Andy Burnham is waiting in the wings, while others point to Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, or even London mayor Sadiq Khan as potential successors if Starmer is forced to step aside. At the same time, Reform UK under Nigel Farage is gaining support in the polls, meaning Labour’s grip on power could weaken quickly if the government continues to be distracted by internal scandals.
Starmer’s reputation as a leader who promised honesty and fairness is now on the line. If it is confirmed that he avoided inheritance tax while enforcing those same rules on ordinary people, particularly farmers and small business owners, the moral argument could be devastating for him. Even if he acted legally, the public may not forgive what they see as double standards.
With the Labour conference about to begin, instead of unity and vision, the party faces the possibility of its leader being dragged into the biggest personal scandal of his time in office. The coming hours and days may decide whether Keir Starmer can survive this storm or whether this marks the beginning of the end for his premiership.