Starmer clears Reeves over 'inadvertent' failure to get rental licence

Sir Keir Starmer has told Rachel Reeves she faces no further action over her “inadvertent” failure to obtain a rental licence for her south London family home.

- SOPHIE WINGATE

Keir Starmer

The Chancellor previously admitted to mistakenly breaching local council housing rules by failing to secure a “selective” licence for the property when it was rented out following her move into No 11 Downing Street.

She initially said that she was unaware of the requirement, but emails between her husband and the letting agency published on Thursday showed he had been informed about the need for a licence.

But estate agents Harvey & Wheeler took the blame for the “oversight” in not applying for a licence on her behalf, despite having agreed to do so.

The Prime Minister said in a letter to Ms Reeves, published on Thursday night, that after reviewing the correspondence, “I still regard this as a case of an inadvertent failure to secure the appropriate licence, which you have apologised for and are now rectifying”.

He added: “Having consulted the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and received his clear and swift advice, with which I concur, I see no need for any further action.”

Sir Keir said it was “regrettable” that she had not shared the information in her first letter to him about the matter on Wednesday, but said he accepted she was “acting in good faith”.