The issue of Angela Rayner ’s tax affairs – which triggered her resignation from government – has been hanging over her head for months, and was seen as a major obstacle to her standing in any potential leadership contest. But in a statement on Thursday morning, the former deputy prime minister revealed she has been cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing , saying she has been “exonerated” of the accusation she had deliberately sought to avoid tax. As the threat of a leadership race hangs over the Labour Party , Ms Rayner’s latest intervention is significant. Angela Rayner said she has been cleared by HMRC of any wrongdoing (PA Archive) It clears the way for her to throw her hat into the ring and represent a soft left option for the party, as well as piling further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to step aside.…