Starmer rules out investigation after Reeves admits rental rules ‘mistake’

Since she apologized for breaking housing laws when renting out her family's house, Sir Keir Starmer denied calls for an inquiry into Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Reeves admitted that she did not obtain a selective rental license to rent out her London home in a letter to the prime minister, and she sincerely apologized for her

inadvertent mistake. In response, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was pleased that the

matter will be brought to an end" after consulting his independent ethics consultant, who has refused to open an investigation. Reeves should be fired if she is found to have broken the rules, according to Conservatives, who have ordered an investigation.

On Wednesday, the chancellor, who first announced the story, alerted the reporter, who then called for a comment, alerting her of the issue. The PM and Reeves' correspondence revealed that they met later that evening to discuss the issue. After moving into Downing Street last year, the Reeves told Sir Keir that regrettably she was not aware that a licence was required to rent out her Southwark home. Reeves wrote:

This was an inadvertent mistake. We took immediate action and applied for the license as soon as it was announced to my attention.

I sincerely regret this omission, and I'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have. The public deservesthe highest standards,

the prime minister said, and he said he had worked with Sir Laurie Magnus, the ethics advisor whose findings had previously felled two ministers in his response. Sir Laurie had ruled that further probe was not required given Reeves' quick reaction and apology, according to Sir Keir. According to reports close to the Chancellor, her letting agent told her it would notify her if a selective license was needed, but did not do so. Reeves' family's London flat was up for rent for £3,200 a month after Labour won the general election in July 2024. It is located in a Southwark Council area where private landlords must have a selective licence, which can be obtained at a cost of £945. Selective licenses guarantee that landlords meet set criteria, which are usually aimed at improving housing quality, combating crime, and raising housing demand.

You can be charged or fined if you're a landlord or managing agent for a house that needs a licence and does not have one,

the council's website states. If Southwark Council decides to go to court, if reveves or her allowing agent to serve an unlimited fine. For a response, the BBC has called Southwark Council and the letting agent. The chancellor - as well as MP for Leeds West and Pudsey - has been in favour of councils using selective licences. Leeds City Council's decision to extend their use of the scheme was less than two weeks ago.

While many private landlords operate in the right way, we know that a number of private tenants in Armley face issues with poorly maintained housing.

This program will guarantee that private landlords in the area are obligated by law to obtain a license for any residential property they are trying to rent and must comply with stringent criteria to ensure that the house is safe and in a good shape of repair.

It is laughable for those in the highest positions of authority in this country to endorse these initiatives but then fail to implement them properly," Acorn, a landlord association that rents privately, said.

The revelations came at a time when Reeves, who is planning for a Budget next month, is concerned that the government may break a manifesto pledge not to raise income tax. She is the chancellor, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said. She must be up to date with her paperwork. She was aware of this legislation. I think there should be an investigation.

But the bottom line is that Keir Starmer said once and again,

the lawbreakers shouldn't be lawmakers,

she continued, so if she's broken the rules, he should apply his own rules to her. On Thursday, shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told BBC Breakfast that he thinks the prime minister

needs to have some backbone.

We need a thorough probe into exactly what has happened,

he said.

With a brief exchange of letters last night, it seems that this is an effort to put the whole thing to bed.

This is a prime minister who, on the steps of Downing Street, talked about restoring the dignity and credibility of government.

We've seen a whole lot of these cases – Angela Rayner,Louise Haighand others – who have fallen well short of expectation. If he is to follow his word, I think he should be arguing that her position is untenable.

Asked if it was fair to call for the Chancellor's resignation, Police Minister Sarah Jones replied no. She told the BBC that Reeves madea mistake,

she didn't know she had to apply right away, but she fixed the mistake as soon as she learned she did, she apologized for it,

she told the prime minister. The chancellor is supposed to be driving growth, Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper said, but the government's list of scandals appears to be growing. "This information, just weeks before the Budget, could be seriously undermining this government's leadership and its ability to concentrate on the urgent issues at hand.