Rachel Reeves under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog

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UK chancellor Rachel Reeves is under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog for allegedly failing to properly register a gift.

The investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner related to a “registration of interests” by Reeves, according to an update published on the UK parliament’s website on Wednesday afternoon. The probe was opened on Tuesday, it added.

The fact of an inquiry does not mean that any rules have been broken but that a potential breach of rules is being investigated.

A person close to Reeves said the investigation related to tickets to the National Theatre that she received in December and were later registered in the MPs’ register of interests.

The register details any financial interest an MP has, or any benefit they receive, and “MPs must register any change to their registrable interests within 28 days”, according to parliament’s website.

The MPs’ register shows that Reeves received four tickets for herself and three family members on December 27, which were gifted by the National Theatre and worth £276. The gift was registered on March 27.

The tickets were registered on time, however, in the ministers’ register of interests, the person close to the chancellor said, adding that she had referred herself to the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

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