UK finance minister Reeves under investigation over alleged breach of rules

British Parliament’s standards commissioner is probing finance minister Rachel Reeves over a possible breach of rules requiring lawmakers to register their financial interests and benefits received.

According to the parliamentary website, the commissioner, who is responsible for monitoring the operation of the House of Commons code of conduct and registers of interests, had opened an investigation on April 29.

It listed the matter under investigation as “registration of interest”.

Lawmakers will provide information about any financial interest or benefit they receive which others might reasonably consider to influence their actions or words.

A spokesperson for Reeves said in a statement that the Chancellor’s interests are fully declared and up to date.

Meanwhile, no further details of the allegations against Reeves were provided, in line with the commissioner’s usual practice.

DAILY POST reports that complaints of this type often relate to a failure to declare an interest within the set 28-day window.

The current version of the register of interests on parliament’s website showed that Reeves on December 27 received four tickets from the National Theatre for a performance, but these were not registered until March 27.

The same tickets appeared in a separate register for ministers published by the government in January.

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in November, set out a new code of conduct for ministers aimed at improving transparency after he was caught in a row over lawmakers accepting gifts such as clothes and Taylor Swift concert tickets.

The website stated that there are currently three other lawmakers being investigated over their registration of interests. The fact that an inquiry is taking place does not mean that rules have been broken.

If the complaint against Reeves is upheld, the commissioner could ask her to acknowledge and apologise for the breach, or, in more serious cases, refer it to a separate committee which can recommend sanctions.

Serious sanctions, such as suspension, must be approved by the House of Commons – parliament’s lower chamber.