Sir Keir Starmer was grilled by Richard Madeley over why he is refusing to look at legal advice that Angela Rayner claims exonerates her in the row over her former council house.
The Labour leader insisted he believes his deputy and does not need to see the paperwork personally when pressed by the Good Morning Britain host.
Sir Keir said: “In the end the question we’re addressing here is where Angela Rayner was living 10 or 15 years ago. Angela has answered that question I don’t know how many times.
“The question at the end is quite a straightforward question which is do you believe Angela Rayner about where she says she was living.
“The answer to that question from me is yes. I don’t need legal advice to tell me whether I believe Angela Rayner when she tells me where she was living.”
Put to him whether he was not looking at the legal advice due to concerns he would see something he would rather not know, Sir Keir added: “No, not at all.
“If a member of my shadow cabinet tells me they’re off to have an operation, I don’t ask to see the medical advice, I don’t ask for their medical notes.”
The GMB host pointed out that Ms Rayner is being investigated by police, adding: “That analogy doesn’t hold I’m afraid.”
Sir Keir replied: “The question is very simple which is where was Angela Rayner living 10 to 15 years ago.
“She’s answered that question, I believe her. I don’t need to read her legal advice to tell me that I believe my deputy when she tells me where she was living 10 to 15 years ago.”
It comes as Greater Manchester Police is investigating allegations about Ms Rayner’s past living situation.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP is facing claims allegations she may have broken electoral law by giving false information about where she was living.
There are also questions over whether she owes capital gains tax on the 2015 sale of her ex-council house.
Ms Rayner insists the property on Vicarage Road in Stockport was her principal residence between 2007 and 2015.
She was registered at the address for five years after she married Mark Rayner in 2010, while he was listed at another property about a mile away in Lowndes Lane.
But neighbours have disputed claims that the couple lived separately.
The Labour firebrand, who denies any wrongdoing, has promised to resign if she is found to have committed a crime over the accusations.
