A former Tory minister has joined prominent figures to defend Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner, as police investigating claims about her former living arrangements say they are considering multiple allegations.
Nick Boles, who was an MP for nine years, criticized the investigation into the sale of Ms Rayner's former town hall and whether she had failed to pay the correct tax or register correctly at the correct address.
"The Conservative attack on Angela Rayner is one of the most grotesque displays of hypocrisy I have ever seen," he said, as former Conservative MP Matthew Parris condemned what he called "the hounding" of the Labor MP, calling it "disgraceful : rude, snobbish and completely out of proportion to the mistake she may or may not have made."
Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal also said that "based on what is in the public domain" the crown prosecutor would not take action against Ms Rayner.
Their comments come after Greater Manchester Police chief Stephen Watson suggested there were multiple allegations that may extend beyond her housing arrangements.
The GMP had previously announced they were investigating the Labor deputy leader over the sale of her Stockport council house and whether she had broken electoral law by providing false information about her address in the 2010s.
During a performance op BBC Radio Manchester Mr Watson said: "The only thing I would say, in line with what we have put out publicly, is that there are a number of claims going around, I don't need to tell people that.
"In an initial assessment we concluded that it was unlikely that we would proceed with an investigation. In terms of providing further investigation or information, we have reassessed that decision and have announced that we will be launching a formal investigation."
He added: "That is a neutral act, it does not mean that information gives us any hard or fast evidence on which to base anything at this stage. It's simply that we have an accusation, these accusations are all over the news, we're going to get to the bottom of what happened."
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It comes as The times reports that police are investigating "tax and other matters" related to its housing affairs. A source told the newspaper: "There are very good resources for it, it is no problem at all. There is a large amount of material and a clear public interest in fully investigating this."
The investigation into Ms Rayner was launched after Conservative MP and party deputy leader James Daly complained to police after GMP previously said it would not investigate the allegations. Mr Daly said he had been made aware of neighbors who contradicted Mrs Rayner's statement that her property, separate from her husband's, was her main residence.
But several former Tory bigwigs have attacked the party's campaign against the shadow-levelling secretary. In a piece in The Times, Mr Parris said the "Get Rayner" media mood had been "fomented by party politicians", adding: "For me there is more than a whiff of misogyny and class condescension in the portrayal of a arrogant young woman - a leftist for God's sake - who has abused the Tories, profited from the sale of Tory council houses and should know her place.
He added: "Where was the Tory anger against millionaire Nadhim Zahawi and his (he emphasises) incorrect tax returns? Like the hunt for Peter Tatchell when he was Labor candidate in the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, the Rayner affair is one of those stories we will look back on and shudder at the loss of all perspective.
Meanwhile, Mr. Boles stated in a letter to the same newspaper that Ms. Rayner's "attackers" "cannot bear the idea that they are about to lose to a woman who has pulled herself up by the bootstraps. And who is going to wipe the floor with them."
The shadow leveling secretary has vowed to resign if she is found to have committed a crime, but has said she is confident she has done nothing wrong.
The Labor Party said it is confident Ms Rayner has followed the rules, and the Ashton-under-Lyne MP "welcomes the opportunity to set out the facts with the police".
Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the police investigation into the sale of Mrs Rayner's town hall and said it will allow a "line to be drawn" on the issue.
He said: "We welcome this investigation as it allows us to draw a line on this issue.
"I have complete confidence that Angela Rayner did not break the rules. As you would expect, she will cooperate with the investigation and it is really a matter for the police."
A number of legal experts have pointed out that even if Ms Rayner is found to have provided false information, it is unlikely that further action will be taken.
Scott Wortley, a law lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, pointed out that any prosecution should have taken place within a year of the alleged crime.
Providing false information is an offense under section 13D of the Representation of the People Act 1983, but the legislation imposes a one-year time limit for bringing charges. As the allegations surrounding Ms Rayner relate to pre-2015, this suggests she is unlikely to face charges.
Magistrates can extend that term in certain circumstances, but only for another year, the law says.
Sir Keir has previously said the Conservatives were "chasing a smear" by asking questions about the deputy leader, and that people were more interested in "problems caused by this government".
He said: "Numerous questions have been asked to Angela Rayner about this. She answered them all. She said she would be happy to answer any further questions from police or any of the authorities.
'I don't need to see the legal advice. My team saw it."
