Rachel Reeves investigated by parliament’s watchdog | EUROtoday

Rachel Reeves is being investigated by parliament’s requirements commissioner, it has emerged, lower than 24 hours earlier than voters go to the polls in England’s native elections.

The probe, understood to be into free theatre tickets, comes as a blow to Labour forward of what are anticipated to be a troublesome set of elections.

Earlier this 12 months, Ms Reeves was compelled to announce she wouldn’t settle for future “freebie” live performance tickets after her resolution to simply accept a seat in a field to look at singer Sabrina Carpenter reignited a livid row.

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The new probe comes after the chancellor attended a present on the National Theatre over Christmas however didn’t add the donation to her MPs’ register of pursuits till March. MPs need to register donations inside 28 days.

It has beforehand been reported that she noticed an adaptation of the basic kids’s novel Ballet Shoes on the theatre over the festive interval.

As nicely as a register for pursuits for MPs, there may be additionally a separate one for ministers, the place it’s understood that the tickets have been declared on time.

A spokesperson for Ms Reeves stated: “The chancellor’s interests are fully declared and up to date.”

Ms Reeves confronted fireplace from MPs, together with a authorities minister, for receiving hospitality on the Sabrina Carpenter live performance as she ready to slash £5bn from the welfare invoice.

Last 12 months, she additionally pledged she wouldn’t settle for any extra free garments from donors after days of unfavorable headlines over “wardrobe-gate”.

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The abrupt change of coverage adopted a livid row simply earlier than Labour’s annual convention.

It erupted after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer didn’t initially declare clothes purchased for his spouse Victoria by Waheed Alli, who has given greater than £500,000 to Labour during the last 20 years.

The Labour chief was additionally embroiled in a row over his resolution to simply accept greater than £100,000 in presents.

In what was dubbed “passes for glasses”, Lord Alli additionally gave the PM tens of 1000’s of kilos value of clothes and lodging, together with “multiple pairs” of spectacles.

The requirements commissioner’s web site says that its inquiry, which opened on Tuesday, is beneath paragraph 5 of the code of conduct.

This says that “members must fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. New members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days.”