UK politics live: Rachel Reeves hit by claims she exaggerated Bank of England job on CV
Her LinkedIn profile shows she worked at the Bank of England from September 2000 to December 2006. However, the BBC found she had left by March 2006 when she began working for Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in West Yorkshire.
Ms Reeves has previously claimed in a 2021 magazine interview she spent a decade working at Threadneedle Street, while she told the Labour Party Business Conference last year she spent 'the best part of a decade' at the Bank.
A spokesman for the chancellor confirmed the LinkedIn profile was inaccurate and said the error was due to an administrative mistake.
It comes as Britain's economy unexpectedly grew in the final three months of last year after recession fears, but Ms Reeves said she was 'still not satisfied'.
Tories say they support government's backing of Ukraine in rare show of cross-party support
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge told the Commons: 'We remain 100% steadfast in our support for Ukraine and in our backing for the Government delivering that, as they did when in opposition, and we agree in principle with them – as we also stressed repeatedly in government – it is for the Ukrainians to decide the timing and terms of any negotiations on ending the war.'
He added: 'Negotiations without the direct involvement of Ukraine would be unthinkable.'
Mr Cartlidge noted US President Donald Trump has been right to highlight that some Nato nations spend 'far below what is expected and required' on defence.
He also sought assurances that the UK Government would use 'every lever possible' to remind all Nato members that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'seen to somehow win from any settlement that may bring a temporary end to the conflict, but it will not make the world a safer place'.
Mr Cartlidge went on: 'Far from it, this would be an illusion of peace likely to send a very dangerous signal to other potential adversaries.'
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 11:49
Explained | What are the fake CV allegations made towards Rachel Reeves?
The BBC reported Rachel Reeves left the Bank of England nine months earlier than she stated in her LinkedIn profile. This means she spent five and a half years working at the bank despite publicly claiming to have spent the 'best part' of a decade there.
Ms Reeves has previously claimed in a 2021 magazine interview she spent a decade working at Threadneedle Street, while she told the Labour Party Business Conference last year she spent 'the best part of a decade' at the Bank.
Her LinkedIn profile shows she worked at the Bank of England from September 2000 to December 2006. However, the BBC found she had left by March 2006 when she began working for Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in West Yorkshire.
The broadcaster unearthed a photograph of the chancellor in March 2006 alongside other HBOS staff at an annual lunch for the Council of Mortgage Lenders. A former HR lead told the BBC she recalled Ms Reeves' first day at HBOS, and that it was in March 2006.
The LinkedIn profile has since been updated. Her profile states she worked in three areas of the Bank over the six-year period she was employed there: its international economic analysis division, then at the British Embassy in Washington DC in the second secretary economic division, and finally in the structural economic analysis division.
After this it lists her time working for Halifax Bank of Scotland, then her political career following her election in 2010.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 11:33
Rishi Sunak makes rare appearance in Commons to ask question on Ukraine
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has urged the Government and its European allies to provide Ukraine with a 'military presence across land, air and sea', in the event of a peace deal.
During an urgent question on Ukraine, he said: 'Can I ask the minister if she agrees with me that in this new world, and in the event of any peace deal, that the United Kingdom and its European allies must lead in providing Ukraine military support and potentially military presence across land, air and sea, to give Ukraine confidence that any peace will endure?
'And can I assure the Government that it will have my support, if that's what it decides to do.'
Defence minister Maria Eagle replied: 'I can confirm that we aim to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to enable it to negotiate, and that involves continuing to supply them with the arms and weapons that they need in order to fight, because fighting is still going on in a very fierce manner in that country.
'So we need to step up and make sure we do that.'
Ms Eagle added that 58% of aid and support received by Ukraine last year was from European nations.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 11:31
Prime minister abandons housing development visit after farmers protest
Sir Keir Starmer was forced to cut short a visit to a housing development after a protest by farmers.
Around a dozen tractors and agricultural vehicles blocked the road near the Eastbrook development in Milton Keynes.
The Prime Minister abandoned planned media interviews due to the protest.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 11:19
Rachel Reeves' spokesperson responds to exaggerated CV allegations
A spokesperson for Rachel Reeves said: 'As Rachel said on Good Morning Britain a couple of weeks ago when she was asked, she worked as an economist at the Bank of England between 2000 and 2006, including over a year at the British Embassy in Washington working in the economics section, and then she worked at HBOS from 2006 to 2009. She's proud of the jobs she did and experience she gained before becoming a Member of Parliament.'
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 11:08
Defence minister says she is glad support for Ukraine remains cross-party
Defence minister Maria Eagle, responding to an urgent question on Ukraine, told the Commons: 'Nato's job is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for any talks, but there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine being involved.
'We want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict and aggression. That's the only way in which this war can end with the kind of security that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have referred to.'
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 10:57
Breaking | Rachel Reeves 'exaggerated Bank of England experience on her CV'
Rachel Reeves 'exaggerated Bank of England experience on her CV'
Rachel Reeves exaggerated on her CV how long she worked at the Bank of England, it has emerged.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 10:49
Pictured | Farming protest distupts Starmer's housing development visit
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 10:36
Starmer disrupted by noisy farmer protest
A group of tractor-driving protesters staged a noisy demonstration as Sir Keir Starmer visited a housing development in Buckinghamshire.
The vehicles could be heard sounding musical horns while the Prime Minister spoke to workers at the side.
Farmers have staged a series of protests following the inheritance tax changes in the budget.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 10:24
Urgent question on Ukraine tabled in Commons
There will be an urgent question on Ukraine in the Commons at 10.30am. It has been tabled by shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, and a defence minister will respond since defence secretary John Healey is at a Nato summit in Brussels.
It comes after Mr Healey warned that 'Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine' after Donald Trump claimed that he and Vladimir Putin had agreed to start talks on ending the conflict.
Jabed Ahmed13 February 2025 10:05
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