Angela Rayner in new 'hypocrisy' row after she took £20k donation from advisory group with close links to oil industry

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 09:21, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 09:23, 21 August 2026 Angela Rayner took a £20,000 donation from an advisory group with close links to the oil industry despite her fulsome backing for Labour's Net Zero agenda. The Housing Secretary received the five-figure sum from Signum Global Advisors last month to go towards her staffing costs. She previously criticised the Tories for failing to 'take on oil and gas giants', while she also heaped praise on her 'friend' Ed Miliband's Net Zero drive when he was energy secretary. In April this year, Ms Rayner said the Iran war showed 'why we need to keep investing in renewable energy' as she hailed Mr Miliband's push for 'clean energy'. Signum Global Advisors describes itself as an 'independent advisory firm operating at the intersection of policy and global markets'. The firm organised a trip for asset managers and hedge funds to Venezuela in March to meet with the country's energy minister and oil and gas executives. It was part of an influx of foreign investors to the oil-rich South American country in the wake of the US capture of former president Nicolas Maduro. Ms Rayner previously earned a £10,000 fee from Signum Global Advisors for a speech in March, although this was paid directly to charity. Angela Rayner, pictured with PM Andy Burnham on Wednesday, took a £20,000 donation from an advisory group with close links to the oil industry The Housing Secretary received the five-figure sum from Signum Global Advisors last month to go towards her staffing costs The Labour Cabinet minister has consistently voted in favour of windfall taxes on oil and gas companies. In September 2022 she attacked Liz Truss for not being willing 'to take on oil and gas giants' and claimed the then-prime minister was 'hell-bent on protecting their £170billion of excess profits'. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'It's a classic Angela Rayner case of 'do as I say, not as I do' just as it was when she dodged her housing taxes. 'Ms Rayner was one of Mr Miliband's cheerleaders as he repeatedly blocked North Sea drilling. 'Now, it seems her opposition isn't strong enough to stop her from taking £20,000 from an oil adviser. Ms Rayner can't have it both ways.' Joanna Marchong, head of campaigns at the think tank Onward, added: 'This is yet another case of Labour hypocrisy from a minister who has made a career of it.  'Ms Rayner cheered on Mr Miliband's Net Zero crusade and repeatedly voted to raise windfall taxes on oil and gas companies. 'She lectured the industry from the moral high ground while British firms paid the price, and then, when out of office, she happily banked tens of thousands of pounds from a firm organising investment trips for oil executives.'  Earlier this week, Ms Rayner defended raking in tens of thousands of pounds from speaking engagements while she was out of government – despite having previously criticised MPs' outside earnings. The register of MPs' interests shows that she made nearly £90,000 from public talks between February and June this year. Ms Rayner also received £76,500 as an advance on her forthcoming book and £2,400 for hosting a radio phone-in show. Her earnings came while she was out of the Cabinet after being forced to resign as Housing Secretary in September last year. It followed her tearful admission she failed to pay £40,000 in stamp duty on the purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex. She returned to her former role in July when Andy Burnham brought her back into Government after becoming Prime Minister. But Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, defended herself from suggestions of hypocrisy after she previously said MPs shouldn't have second jobs. Asked about her earnings from speaking engagements and whether she should have focused on her constituents in that time, she told Sky News: 'Well, I was focusing on my constituents during that time. 'There was, I think, around six engagements in 12 months for a couple of hours... and that's all declared appropriately. I don't consider that to have been a second job. 'I've been very clear on making sure that everything that I do is for the people of Ashton-under-Lyne.' In May 2023 Ms Rayner responded to scrutiny surrounding MPs' earnings from outside their parliamentary role, posting on social media: 'Being an MP isn't a second job. It is the job. Labour will put an end to this racket.'  A spokesperson for Angela Rayner said: 'All donations have been declared in line with the rules.' Signum Global Advisors has been contacted for comment.