Rachel Reeves row: standards adviser looking at new information

No 10 says new details have ‘come to light’ about chancellor’s failure to get licence to rent out her family home

Keir Starmer’s adviser on ministerial standards is looking at new information about Rachel Reeves’s failure to get a licence to rent out her family home after new information came to light, Downing Street has said.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “Following a review of emails sent and received by the chancellor’s husband, new information has come to light. This has now been passed to the prime minister and his independent adviser. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The emails will be published later on Thursday, it is understood.

The spokesperson said they could not say if the emails would support Reeves’s case that the error was inadvertent, but said Starmer still had full confidence in the chancellor after seeing the emails.

In an exchange of letters with Starmer late on Wednesday, Reeves said that when she rented out the house she had not been told by the lettings agency that homes in Southwark, south London needed a £945 licence before they were rented out.

She let the family home after the general election, when she moved into Downing Street.

In his reply, Starmer said that having consulted his independent adviser on ministerial interests, Laurie Magnus, he was satisfied the breach was “inadvertent” and that given her prompt action once she knew about the licence, an apology was sufficient.

More details soon ….