huffingtonpost - 15 hours ago

John Healey, Rachel Reeves and Trevor PhillipsTrevor Phillips called out a senior Labour minister today over the way Rachel Reeves has been treated after breaking property law.The chancellor has been in the spotlight this week after it was revealed she was renting out her family home without the correct licence.She claimed it was an “inadvertent” mistake as she had not been aware of the necessary requirements.Within 24 hours, new emails showed her husband had actually been aware – but their estate agents had promised to obtain the correct licence on their clients’ behalf, and then failed to do so.This was still a breach of property law, but Keir Starmer and his independent adviser on ministerial standards said Reeves’ apology and new attempts to get a licence were “sufficient” as resolutions.The prime minister did still show his frustration at the way the situation was handled, telling Reeves it was “regrettable” she did not share all of the details when she first told him about the issue on Wednesday.But, as Sky News presenter Phillips pointed out while interviewing defence secretary John Healey: “In the past, that would have been pretty much ground for resignation, wouldn’t it?”Healey replied: “Of course it would have been better if they’d managed to get all of the information together in one go, but I think she wanted to act immediately – which she did.”He then insisted this was not comparable to the Tory government, when ministers breached the ministerial code but did not leave their posts.Phillips reminded Healey how Labour, when in opposition, used to insist the Tories were acting as though it was “one rule for them, one rule for everybody else”.“How come it’s so different when you make pretty much the same level of error?” The presenter said.“Totally different!” Healey insisted. “The independent adviser in a case like Priti Patel said she breached the ministerial code. The independent adviser in Rachel’s case –”Phillips cut in to list all of the ministers who have been forced to quit over a scandal since Labour came to power, including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who quit over her own tax scandal in September.“These things happen in government,” the minister said. “The test is how a prime minister responds. And the start of this government, the prime minister set new standards for ministerial conduct, he gave the independent adviser new powers...”“Why isn’t he getting rid of his chancellor?” Phillips asked.Healey said: “Because his adviser said it was an inadvertent error, there is no course for further action, the prime minister is taking his recommendation.”Related...Starmer Raises Eyebrows By Promoting Labour s Work On Renters Rights Amid Reeves Rental RowHas Rachel Reeves Been Exonerated? Estate Agent Apologises To Chancellor Amid Rental Breach RowDowning Street Refuses To Say If Rachel Reeves Broke The Ministerial Code Over Renting Her Home Out

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