Rachel Reeves's housing scandal was a small administrative error, but a big political mistake | Oliver Eagleton

At a time of austerity, and with Labour’s housing policies needing years to take effect, the public doesn’t want to hear about ministers with multiple homesAt first glance, the story might seem trivial: a bureaucratic slip-up with few tangible consequences which will soon recede from the headlines. To be sure, the scandal over Rachel Reeves’s housing situation is no Watergate. Her failure to get the right licence for her south London property, which she began renting out once she moved to Downing Street – potentially putting her in breach of the law as well as the ministerial code – is a minor blip compared with the country’s multiple social crises. The prime minister said the affair was a “regrettable” but “inadvertent” error, while the Tories have called for the chancellor to resign. Yet neither party appears to have grasped its deeper political significance.Two other senior Labour figures have also recently been pushed out over housing troubles: former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner for underpaying tax on her second home in Hove, and homelessness minister Rushanara Ali for evicting four tenants from her London property and hiking the rent. Why has each of them been foiled by housing?Oliver Eagleton is managing editor of Phenomenal World Continue reading...

Comments

Business News

Watchdog’s car finance scheme could short-change consumers, MPs say

Evening Standard

Comments

Similar News

Manufacturing sheds jobs for 12 months in a row as firms squeezed by Rachel Reeves' last Budget - and worry about the next one

Rachel Reeves’s 5% VAT cut on electricity bills will backfire, experts say

Rachel Reeves considers 20% tax on assets of people deciding to leave UK

The crescendo of pre-budget lobbying has rarely been so loud. Rachel Reeves must tune it out | Polly Toynbee

Would Rachel Reeves dare to hike income tax? This is Money Podcast

After Rachel Reeves' rental licence misstep, here's what ALL landlords need to know

Will Rachel Reeves raid LLPs in the Budget and what do lawyers, accountants and GPs stand to lose?

Lettings agency takes blame in Rachel Reeves licence row

Rachel Reeves: What is a selective property licence and who needs one?

Government borrowing costs rise as Rachel Reeves comes under pressure

Rachel Reeves: What is a selective property licence and who needs one?

Rachel Reeves: What is a selective property licence and who needs one?

What has Rachel Reeves done wrong – and how serious are things for her?

Rachel Reeves admits breaking rules by renting out her house without a licence

How much would Rachel Reeves raise with an income tax hike - and how much it would cost YOU?

Pound tumbles as markets take fright over Rachel Reeves' Budget woes with UK productivity downgrade

UK's budget black hole could be up to &#163;40bn - here's how Rachel Reeves might fill it

Budget 2025: What tax rises and spending cuts could Rachel Reeves announce?

Britain can defy gloomy economic forecasts, says Rachel Reeves

Too many want to do Britain down – Labour will defy the doomsayers and beat the forecasts | Rachel Reeves

Business News

Watchdog’s car finance scheme could short-change consumers, MPs say

Stocks struggle despite manufacturing improvement

Stocks struggle despite manufacturing improvement

Watchdog’s car finance scheme could short-change consumers, MPs say

Rosé’s Historic Radio Record Has Been Tied — Will She Be Beaten?

Here's What CBS Cut Out Of Its ‘60 Minutes’ Interview With Trump

Meet Grasshapa: From Pretty Boy Actor To Experimental Musician

Here Are The ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Night Songs And Dances

IndyCar’s Kyle Kirkwood Signs Contract Extension With Andretti Global

Will Poles Add Talent To Reward Bears For Increasing Playoff Odds?

The US Should Press China To Release Political Prisoners After APEC

Bo Bichette Offers 5-Word Response On Returning To Blue Jays After World Series

St. Louis Shock Finally Win An Elusive Major League Pickleball Title At 2025 MLP Cup

Carol Burnett Discusses Her Female-Dominated ‘Palm Royale’ Series

Warning As Google And Microsoft Calendar Threat Surge Confirmed

2025’s AI Spending Frenzy Continues: OpenAI Signs $38 Billion Cloud Deal With Amazon (List)

Ulta Beauty’s UB Marketplace And What It Means For Consumers And Brands

Dodgers Predicted To Land Kyle Tucker With 10-Year Blockbuster Contract

Two African Women Voted Onto FIFPro Women’s World XI For First Time

World Series Champion Blake Snell Partners With Players Health

Baekhyun And Taemin To Headline Their Own Solo Concerts In Las Vegas

New Yonex Tennis Shoe Concept Provides Unique Sensation

Wikipedia co-founder blocks editing of ‘Gaza genocide’ page over ‘egregious’ anti-Israel claims

Farage pivots on economy - will his original supporters be in favour?

HSBC UK offers mortgage lending at up to 6.5 times incomes for Premier customers

Farage says substantial tax cuts ‘not realistic’

HSBC UK offers mortgage lending at up to 6.5 times incomes for Premier customers

‘The Witcher’ Season 4 Has Hit A Wall In Netflix’s Top 10 List

Dodgers Vs. Blue Jays 2025, Anatomy Of A Classic World Series

Blue Jays’ Future Hall Of Famer Announces Retirement Decision After World Series

Cody Bellinger’s Personal Change Turns Heads With Yankees Decision Looming

McCarthy, Vikings Rescue Season By Punching Back Against Lions

New York Mayor’s Race Highlights The Persistence Of Rent Control

Mavic vs Shmavik: Ukraine Takes On The World’s Leading Drone Maker

Kimberly-Clark Buys Embattled Tylenol Maker Kenvue In $48 Billion Deal

Why OLYRA's CEO Says Ignorance Is A Founder's Best Asset

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Creator Wants Keanu Back, And Maybe Scarlett Johansson

Niall Horan Charts His First Country Hit While An Older Tune Skyrockets

How To Ensure AI Does Not Make Information Overload Worse At Work

Former Chiefs And Vikings Star Jared Allen To Compete In Grand Slam Of Curling

Heo Nam-Jun Enjoyed The Romantic Nostalgia Of ‘A Hundred Memories’

Kimberly-Clark buys Tylenol maker Kenvue in a cash and stock deal for $48.7 billion

High-end grocery chain joins lease in 40K-square-foot Gowanus expansion

‘60 Minutes’ edits out Trump’s bragging about $16M settlement from CBS: ‘Paid me a lotta money’

A mansion tax would disastrously stall the urge to downsize in London

Farage says substantial tax cuts ‘not realistic’

Why The Age Of Intelligence Will Redefine Civilization

Leaks Say Harry Potter Is Heading To ‘Fortnite,’ And The Usual Debates Ensue

The Unsustainable Strain Of AI’s Insatiable Power Needs

Jagger Eaton On Biggest Competitive Goal: ‘Win A Gold Meal In Los Angeles’ In 2028 Summer Olympics

NBA Insider Scoop B: Inside A Day Fueled By Faith And Hustle

Taylor Swift’s New No. 1 Hit Moves Up In Her Catalog As One Of Her Biggest

Blondie’s Debbie Harry And Chris Stein Look Back At The Band’s Comeback LP ‘No Exit’

Erling Haaland Is A Goal Machine - Are Man City Too Reliant On Him?

Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Standout V.J. Edgecombe’s Agent Details The Key To His Success

23% annual jump in people using insurer-provided health services – ABI

DWP Christmas Bonus 2025: Who is eligible for the payment and when will it arrive?

UK's budget black hole could be up to £40bn - here's how Rachel Reeves might fill it