London (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed calls for an investigation into Finance Minister Rachel Reeves’ oversight in obtaining the proper paperwork for a house rental, stating her apology sufficed to resolve the issue.
In a late Wednesday letter exchange with Rachel Reeves, Starmer stated that his independent ethics adviser had advised that “further investigation is not necessary” and that he was “satisfied” the issue could be resolved. Starmer said that under the code for ministerial behavior, an apology was a satisfactory resolution.
What mistake did Rachel Reeves admit in her letter?
In her letter to Starmer, Reeves acknowledged that she did not secure the necessary “selective” rental license for her south London residence when she moved into her Downing Street home following Labor’s victory in July 2024.
“This was an inadvertent mistake. As soon as it was brought to my attention, we took immediate action and have applied for the license,”
she wrote, adding
“I sincerely apologise for this error”.
How long has Reeves’ property been rented without a licence?
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Rachel Reeves has illegally rented out her family home since moving into Downing Street without a license. Ms Reeves did not obtain a rental license when she placed her family home in Dulwich, south London, on the rental market last year, as she and her family moved into Number 11 Downing Street.
The Chancellor listed the sale of her four-bedroom detached home for a rental price for £3,200 a month last year, and she is responsible for renting or receiving rental income since the register of interests states September 2024.
How did Reeves react upon discovering the oversight?
In response to the inquiries from the Daily Mail, she admitted she was unaware of the licensing requirement and applied for the license.
Once the story was revealed, a spokesman for Ms Reeves said:
“Since becoming Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has rented out her family home through a lettings agency. She had not been made aware of the licensing requirement, but as soon as it was brought to her attention, she took immediate action and applied for the license.”
How have conservative leaders responded to controversy?
Lawmakers from the opposition Conservative Party have called for a full investigation, with Conservative Party finance policy chief Mel Stride saying that Reeves’ position was not tenable.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also commented on the ‘very serious revelations’, saying:
‘If the Chancellor, who has spent months floating punishing tax hikes on family homes, has at the same time seemingly been profiting from illegally renting out her house, that would make her position extremely tenuous.”
