Rachel Reeves’s CV ‘exaggerated Bank of England job’ on Linkedin: UK Politics live – UK Times

Downing Street has given Rachel Reeves its backing after her use of expenses in a previous job and inaccuracies in her CV were called into question.

Asked whether Ms Reeves could be trusted, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Yes, the Chancellor is working with the whole of Cabinet deliver the Plan for Change.

“Figures out this morning showed growth numbers coming in higher than expected… we’re still not satisfied with this level of growth, and that’s why we’re determined to go further and faster in delivering the economic growth and improvement to living standards that the country needs.”

The spokesperson added Sir Keir Starmer believes Rachel Reeves has integrity and he has no concerns about her conduct,

The Number 10 official added that he could not answer questions about time spent by Cabinet ministers in previous jobs prior to Government.

He said that the Chancellor had gone through the “ministerial declaration process” which all members of Cabinet go through when asked if she disclosed that there had been an investigation into her expenses before she was an MP.

“Obviously the Chancellor, like every Cabinet member, has been through that process. The process is governed by the independent adviser. Obviously I can’t get into detail,” the spokesman said.

Asked whether it would be right to say the Prime Minister does not have any concerns whatsoever about Ms Reeves’ conduct, he said: “Correct.”

Defence Minister Maria Eagle said Ukraine must be directly involved in any peace negotiations and that the UK and Nato are committed to strengthening Ukraine by continuing military aid. She highlighted the global security risks of unchecked aggression and the support of over 50 nations through the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Ms Eagle also said 2025 would be a critical year for Ukraine and reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine’s Nato membership, while acknowledging it is a long-term process. She agreed that defence spending must increase but emphasised strategic allocation of resources.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged the UK and European allies to provide Ukraine with a military presence across land, air, and sea to ensure any peace deal endures. He assured the government of his support in this effort.

MPs raised concerns about the role of the United States in potential peace talks. Conservative MP Sir Julian Lewis warned that a US-negotiated settlement without Ukraine’s consent could create a dangerous power vacuum, while Labour MP Johanna Baxter suggested that a Trump-Putin deal could amount to appeasement.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge stressed that Ukraine must determine its own terms for peace and warned that allowing Putin to gain from any settlement would embolden other aggressors.

Sir Bernard Jenkin argued that the UK must prepare for the possibility of war to effectively deter further Russian aggression. Several MPs also emphasised the importance of NATO countries meeting their defence spending commitments.

Mr Cartlidge noted that Trump was right to highlight that some NATO nations contribute below the required levels. Ms Eagle agreed, stating that the UK’s strategic defence review would outline plans to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”