Why The Rachel Reeves' Property Saga Is Getting Very Messy For The PM

Rachel Reeves' admission that she did not obtain a rental licence before allowing tenants to move into her family home It seems Keir Starmer is still not out of the woods when it comes to chaos within his own top team.Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted overnight that she did not obtain a rental licence before allowing tenants to move into her family home – thus breaking property law.This saga raises further questions around the government’s ability to follow its own rules.The chancellor promised she has now applied for the required licence. In his response, Starmer seemed to think it was an open-and-shut case after his independent watchdog, Sir Laurie Magnus, said there was no need for a probe.But the prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters on Thursday afternoon new evidence had emerged around the case.He said: “Following a review of emails sent and received by the chancellor’s husband [Nick Joicey] new information has now come to light.“This has now been passed to the prime minister and his independent adviser. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”Starmer’s representative insisted he still has full confidence in his chancellor and indicated she would still be in post when delivering the Budget.These comments came hours after the same spokesperson refused to clarify whether Reeves had breached the ministerial code on Thursday.Questions also remain over just what evidence Sir Laurie saw which meant he was happy to conclude the case last night – and if these new emails will warrant a new investgation.As opposition parties call for an investigation, here’s why Reeves’ “inadvertent mistake” is already causing so much frustration – and why the drama is definitely not over.Why is this so embarrassing?It’s hardly Labour’s first scandalStarmer’s deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner had to resign last month after it was revealed she underpaid on stamp duty – by £40,000 – when buying a new home.US ambassador Peter Mandelson was sacked over his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali resigned when it emerged she had evicted her tenants only to hike up the rent shortly after they moved out.Anti-corruption minister Siddiq Tulip quit over her links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, former PM of Bangladesh, who is under investigation over corruption.Public health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked for comments in a WhatsApp group.Transport secretary Louise Haigh resigned following a previously undisclosed fraud conviction from 2013 resurfaced.All of this comes after Starmer’s repeated pledge to lead a government of “honesty and integrity”.It’s also worth remembering when he was leader of the opposition, Starmer insisted at the height of the partygate scandal in 2022 that “lawbreakers cannot be lawmakers”.Reeves is weeks away from announcing the BudgetThe chancellor will unveil the government’s tax and spending plans on November 26.She’s widely expected to hike up taxes – so the optics that she broke property law by inadvertently not paying for the correct licence will hardly inspire much confidence in her financial plans.The worst could be yet to comeReeves could face paying a £38,000 bill as a result of this breach, according to The Telegraph.Tenants of an unlicensed property can apply for a year’s rent to be refunded.Considering she has been charging her renters £3,200 a month since August 2024, that means Reeves might have to pay back her tenants £38,400.Southwark council could also now investigate the chancellor for not obtaining the correct “selective” licence which costs around £900.Related...Downing Street Refuses To Say If Rachel Reeves Broke The Ministerial Code Over Renting Her Home OutFresh Headache For Starmer As Reeves Admits To Unlawfully Renting Out Home Without Correct LicenceRachel Reeves Blames Brexit As She Prepares To Raise Taxes And Cut Spending

Comments

Breaking news

Independent

Could Prince Andrew ever be prosecuted over his links to Jeffrey Epstein?

about 2 hours ago

Independent

The challenging history of the South African apartheid movement and America’s right

about 2 hours ago

Independent

More than 300 piles of human remains have been recovered from the Vegas desert. Cops still don’t know who left them there

about 2 hours ago

Helicopter crashes near Everest base camp during rescue attempt

Independent

Refugee groups condemn Trump’s ‘blatantly racist’ plan to prioritize white South Africans and cap admissions at 7,500 each year

about 2 hours ago

Americans are seriously hating Trump’s decision to tear down the East Wing for a mammoth ballroom, poll finds

Independent

MTG rocks MAGA with announcement she is going on ‘The View’ as blood feud with Mike Johnson and GOP leaders goes full boil

about 2 hours ago

Timeline of Prince Andrew scandals: From Queen’s favourite to Epstein allegations – and losing his titles

Independent

Comments

Breaking news

Could Prince Andrew ever be prosecuted over his links to Jeffrey Epstein?

The challenging history of the South African apartheid movement and America’s right

More than 300 piles of human remains have been recovered from the Vegas desert. Cops still don’t know who left them there

Helicopter crashes near Everest base camp during rescue attempt

King Charles’ statement in full as Andrew is stripped of prince title and home

Read the statement from Buckingham Palace stripping Prince Andrew of his titles

CBS News fired 8 on-air personalities in latest layoffs under new leader Bari Weiss. All of them are women

A look at Prince Andrew's antics and scandals that have tried royal patience for decades

Maryland state senator indicted in federal court on extortion and conspiracy charges

NASA takes one step closer to launching quiet supersonic jets

Refugee groups condemn Trump’s ‘blatantly racist’ plan to prioritize white South Africans and cap admissions at 7,500 each year

Americans are seriously hating Trump’s decision to tear down the East Wing for a mammoth ballroom, poll finds

Brazil’s Amazon deforestation falls 11% even as fires surge to record levels

Rachel Reeves fights on as estate agent takes blame in rent rules breach

MTG rocks MAGA with announcement she is going on ‘The View’ as blood feud with Mike Johnson and GOP leaders goes full boil

Timeline of Prince Andrew scandals: From Queen’s favourite to Epstein allegations – and losing his titles

Suspect disguised himself as a woman to record people in gym locker room, cops say

King Charles III will evict Prince Andrew from his royal residence and strip his titles, palace says

Deal between the US and China is undoing damage from a self-inflicted trade war

Photos show thousands of ultra-Orthodox men protesting military draft shut down Jerusalem

Cop's testimony, judge's instructions influenced outcome of Sonya Massey murder case

World Athletics blames employees for $1.7M taken in 'systematic theft'

King Charles strips Prince Andrew of titles and serves him Royal Lodge eviction notice

WPP woes keep lid on FTSE and pound extends falls

Germany's Merz urges deeper European ties with Turkey despite disagreement on Gaza

Dictionary.com’s word of the year is '6-7.' But is it even a word and what does it mean?

Sean 'Diddy' Combs seeks speedy appeals court hearing while he serves a 4-year sentence

MGM casino head admits company lost its way with summer prices and regrets ‘infamous’ $26 bottle of water

FBI makes several arrests among Mississippi law enforcement agencies, sheriff says

Newly discovered skeleton rewrites ‘decades of research’ over T. rex

You can thank Elvis for Elvira, Cassandra Peterson says

One UK town to win £3.5 million in new government competition

Mushroom clouds over Vegas? What Trump’s nuclear weapons tests could mean for America and the world

The Latest: Trump administration limits refugee admissions to mostly white South Africans

A ‘Call of Duty’ movie is in the works with Peter Berg and Taylor Sheridan

Hurricane Melissa live updates: At least 34 dead across Caribbean as storm barrels toward Bermuda

Trade takeaways from Trump's meeting with Chinese leader Xi

Elderly woman sues after claiming ride on Trump Tower’s ‘golden escalator’ led to ‘permanent’ injuries

Nationals finalizing hire of 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager, AP source says

China's rare earth export delay offers US a chance to weaken Beijing's grip on the market

How the widening variety of symptoms in autism diagnoses can create a more inclusive society

The East Coast is getting drenched by rain and flooding today. How will it impact your Halloween trick-or-treating?

Anchorage shaken after 5.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Alaska

FM pledges support for credit union pensioners left in lurch over funeral cover

Man in court charged with attempted murder following 'stabbing' in Scots town

Callander sister takes on special bungee challenge in memory of beloved brother

Coatbridge pair attract 3000 customers in first two months of trading with new mobile food business

Taylor Swift tribute act Taylor Fever returning to Airdrie Town Hall

Second teen charged after 'disturbance' and 'attempted murder' in Aberdeen

Asylum seeker raped vulnerable teen in brutal attack in Scots park

Britons urged to book jabs as flu season hits UK weeks earlier than usual

Call for 'damning' report into mother's murder to be fully released

Three men charged with child sexual offences in Rochdale

Man jailed after burgling Damien Hirst's studio while wearing GPS tag

Alleged Madeleine McCann family stalker cries as she tells jury 'I do believe I'm her'

'New mum' Kira Cousins who faked baby's birth and lied to family signs TV documentary deal

Woman dies in shower after horror 'electrocution' as grandma makes terrifying discovery

MIKEY SMITH: 9 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he threatens to jail Joe Biden

Rachel Reeves gets apology from estate agents for rental licence 'oversight'

DWP says more than 900,000 pensioners are missing out on up to £4,300 a year