Chancellor Rachel Reeves has denied claims that she was the subject of an investigation into her expenses while working at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS), insisting she was “never questioned” on the matter.
In her first public comments since the BBC reported that she had been investigated over expenses claims during her time at the bank, Ms Reeves said:
“No-one ever raised any concerns about my expenses.”
She further stated that her expenses had been submitted and approved “in the proper way”, adding:
“I was never questioned, never asked to pay back any expenses.”
Ms Reeves worked at HBOS between 2006 and 2009 before entering politics.
BBC report on expenses investigation
The BBC reported on Thursday that Ms Reeves, along with two other HBOS employees, had been investigated over their expenses. An initial inquiry had reportedly suggested that they appeared to have breached the bank’s rules, but it remains unclear what action, if any, was taken.
It has been alleged that Ms Reeves was among a group of HBOS staff who made “excessive” purchases, including handbags and perfume for colleagues, using “motivation cards” provided by the bank. These cards were meant for rewarding high-performing staff but were allegedly misused alongside questionable expenses claims.
Former HBOS HR manager dismisses allegations
Jane Wayper, a former HR manager at HBOS who left the bank in 2008, has cast doubt on the claims. In a statement, she said:
“I would have been made aware of any investigation which concluded there was a case to answer. I would have been required to organise and oversee a disciplinary process.
This did not happen.”
Ms Wayper’s LinkedIn profile confirms her role at HBOS at the time of the alleged investigation.
Additionally, David Sorensen, a lawyer who represented Ms Reeves when she left HBOS, also dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing.
He stated that Ms Reeves was not subject to “allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct” during her tenure at the bank. He further clarified that she left the bank under “a standard-style agreement adopted by the company when a mutually agreed exit was made during the bank’s restructure.”
Questions over reeves’ Bank of england tenure
During a visit to a building site in Nottinghamshire, the Chancellor was also asked about claims that she had exaggerated the length of time she worked at the Bank of England before joining HBOS.
According to a BBC report, Ms Reeves’ LinkedIn profile had previously listed her tenure at the Bank of England as lasting for months longer than it actually did.
More Read
Her team has since stated that this was due to an administrative error by the member of staff who had set up her profile.
When questioned about the discrepancy on Thursday, Ms Reeves responded:
“I’m proud of the work that I did before I became an MP, but people will judge me on the job I’m doing now as Chancellor of the Exchequer.”
Political reaction and conservative criticism
The controversy surrounding Ms Reeves has drawn criticism from political opponents, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stating on Friday that the Chancellor has “serious questions” to answer.
Ms Badenoch added that the Conservative Party would ensure the Government is held accountable for any potential misconduct.
As the Chancellor, Ms Reeves plays a central role in managing the UK’s economy and public finances. Any lingering concerns over her past employment could raise questions about her integrity and financial management credentials.
However, with no concrete evidence of wrongdoing and the dismissal of allegations by former colleagues and legal representatives, the issue may ultimately prove to be more of a political distraction than a genuine scandal.
