The BBC began snooping around Reeves’ time at HBOS after Guido revealed her job was not an “economist“ on 24 October. Now it accuses her of misrepresenting the length of time she spent working at the Bank of England – having started working at HBOS in Yorkshire by March 2006, not December. She previously claimed: “I spent a decade working as an economist at the Bank of England and loved it.” It was actually five and a half years. Her Linkedin CV has been changed yet again…
The BBC’s Billy Kenber and Phil Kemp have also discovered that at HBOS there was an expenses investigation into Reeves and two managers. This followed a detailed whistleblowing complaint that Reeves was using the bank’s cash to “fund a lifestyle.” Guido first raised questions about Reeves’ departure from HBOS back in October…
The complaint report was given to the bank’s risk department and, at their request, was taken on by the Internal Audit department. Once there “it found that there was evidence of apparent wrongdoing by the three senior managers including Reeves.” It then went to the “investigative part of the Risk department” in April of 2009. Reeves and her boss left bank in May 2009 under a compromise agreement – a voluntary legal arrangement…
Some of the eyebrow-raising expenses Reeves allegedly claimed include:
- £152 – Handbag & perfume for her boss (joint gift with another manager).
- £49 – Handbag for her PA.
- £55 – Wine from her boss.
- £400+ – Leaving meal for a colleague.
- Wine & cosmetics – Birthday presents for colleagues (using a mix of Motivation cards & expenses claims).
- Earrings – Gift for her PA, claimed back on expenses.
Reeves’ spokeswoman says: “She was not aware of an investigation nor was she interviewed, and she did not face any disciplinary action on this or any other matters. All expenses were submitted and signed off in the proper way.” Later in 2015 Reeves and 18 other MPs had had their parliamentary credit cards suspended after invalid payments were found to have been made. Extremely difficult territory for the Chancellor here…
UPDATE: Richard Holden tells Guido:
“You can claim to have worked somewhere for a decade when you were there five years. You can claim you worked as an economist when you were a customer services manager. You can claim there was a ‘black hole’ when you arrived but in truth it’s it’s one you created by handing inflation busting pay rises to your union baron mates. You can claim what you like but the issue you face rapidly becomes one of credibility. Whether it’s the global financial markets, British employers, or the public at large, once your credibility is gone the British people end up paying a premium in terms of debt interest, jobs, prices and opportunities. Rachel Reeves has lost her credibility and the fact that Sir Keir Starmer cannot see that is damaging his, but more importantly our country on every level. Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer should know what to now do in the national interest. The fact they seem oblivious to everyone but them speaks volumes about the vacant vacuum at the heart of this Labour Government.”
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”
