A senior London Labour MP backed further investigation into growing claims over Rachel Reeves’ CV, time in banking and expenses.
Mitcham and Morden MP Dame Siobhain McDonagh believes such further probing is inevitable after a BBC investigation claimed there was at least an initial inquiry into the expenses of Ms Reeves and two other staff when she worked for Halifax Bank of Scotland.
“There is no point not wanting it because it’s going to happen,” Dame Siobhain told BBC Politics Live.
But she added: “I have known Rachel Reeves for a very long time and I would say that she is one of the most hard-working, honest politicians I have ever met in a long career.”
She stressed: “First of all we have to be sure about what happened with the expenses scandal.
“As far as I’m aware she absolutely denies that she was approached by anybody about the expenses scandal.”
With doubts being raised about an expenses inquiry, she added: “So I think there’s still questions to be asked about what is going on and we’ll see what happens.”
Sir Keir Starmer backed Ms Reeves on Thursday as she came under pressure over inaccuracies in her CV and her use of expenses in a previous job.
Ms Reeves, who delivered a controversial tax and spend Budget last autumn, has updated her job history on professional networking site LinkedIn to reflect she worked at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) for longer than she had previously said.
The Chancellor’s page had previously suggested her stint at the Bank of England, which she has at times referenced to reinforce her credentials, lasted months longer than it now says.
Her use of expenses during her time working for HBOS was also subject to an internal investigation, according to the BBC, but a spokesperson for Ms Reeves has claimed she was not aware of the probe.
A lawyer for the Chancellor, who is MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, has also said she was not subject to “allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct” during her career in retail banking.
Asked whether he was comfortable with the Chancellor appearing to exaggerate her relevant experience, Sir Keir said on Thursday: “Rachel Reeves has dealt with any issues that arise.”
Asked if Ms Reeves could be trusted, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Yes, the Chancellor is working with the whole of Cabinet to deliver the Plan for Change.”
Responding to the update to her LinkedIn profile to reflect the changed date of her work with HBOS, a spokesperson for the Chancellor 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.”
The discrepancy on her time at HBOS was blamed on a clerical error and that Ms Reeves had been unaware of it.
The BBC reported HBOS had opened an investigation into the spending culture of the department at the bank where Ms Reeves worked.
A whistleblower complained she and two senior colleagues’ use of expenses was excessive, according to the broadcaster.
Ms Reeves’ spokesperson said 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”.
They added: “All expenses were submitted and signed off in the proper way.”
Jane Wayper, former HR business partner for HBOS who worked alongside Ms Reeves, also said she did not recognise any of the claims about her former colleague.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the BBC investigation “raises serious questions” for the Chancellor.
