Sir Keir Starmer has said he “continues to have confidence” in Rachel Reeves even though she has made an “inadvertent” breach of housing law.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told journalists that Reeves “acted with urgency” to amend her “mistake” therefore “no further action is required.”
The Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride told Sky News the Chancellor’s position is “not tenable” and a “proper investigation” must be started.
Stride said there was a “quick exchange of letters last night” which is not “appropriate” even though Starmer insists there is “integrity and dignity in office.”
Stride added, “I don’t think it’s good enough simply to try and brush it under the carpet in the way that he is.
And given where we are at the moment and that there’s going to be no proper investigation, I think he needs to do the right thing and accept that her position is not tenable.
Sarmers’s spokesperson said there is a “sufficient resolution” in some cases under the ministerial code, but the Prime Minister is refusing to say if Reeves has breached the code.
He said, “The chancellor rightly acted with urgency on this matter. She has set out that it was an inadvertent mistake and as soon as it was brought to her attention took immediate action, applying for the licence and speaking to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.
“She made the prime minister aware of this issue at the earliest opportunity, at which point he immediately sought advice from the independent adviser.
It was advised that in the light of the chancellor’s prompt action to rectify the position, including her apology, further investigation is not necessary.
“The ministerial code makes clear that in certain circumstances, an apology is a sufficient resolution.”
Downing Street was told the independent adviser and Starmer did a quick “stitch-up” and the “Chancellor has got away scot-free,” the spokesman said, “I don’t accept the framing of that at all.
