Keir Starmer has assured Rachel Reeves that she will not face any further repercussions for her unintentional oversight in obtaining a rental license. Although he expressed disappointment that the emails concerning the matter were not initially shared with him, he confirmed no additional action will be taken.
Reeves had previously acknowledged mistakenly violating local housing regulations by failing to secure a “selective” rental license for her family property. She released emails on Thursday between her husband and the agency, revealing that the agency had agreed to apply for the license. She took full responsibility for the situation and informed the Prime Minister accordingly.
In a letter to Keir Starmer, Reeves explained that the letting agency and her husband had correspondence confirming the need for a selective license, which the agency had agreed to apply for on their behalf but later failed to do so due to staff changes. She acknowledged her responsibility in securing the license and expressed regret for not discovering this information sooner.
The Prime Minister, after reviewing the situation and consulting the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, concluded that Reeves’ failure to obtain the license was inadvertent and that no further action was necessary. The Prime Minister’s independent standards adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, also stated that Reeves’ error was unintentional and found no evidence of bad faith in her actions.
Following consultation with his ethics adviser, Sir Keir announced that the matter could be closed without launching a probe. Downing Street affirmed its confidence in Reeves, ensuring that she will proceed with delivering the Budget on November 26.
