A Labour MP repeatedly dodged questions about Rachel Reeves’ CV controversy during a tense exchange on GB News today.
Home Office Minister Dame Diana Johnson sidestepped host Isabel Webster’s direct questions about whether lying on a CV would breach the ministerial code.
This comes after the Chancellor sparked outrage by making amendments to her LinkedIn profile.
Speaking on GB News this morning, host Isabel Webster asked: “People are starting to doubt the Chancellor’s economic credentials.
Rachel Reeves has been accused of embellishing her CVGB News
“They seem to be an economist with the truth, but perhaps not so good when she’s doing the sums. Is lying on your CV a breach of the ministerial code?”
Dame Diana Johnson responded: “What I’m really here to talk about as the Home Office Minister for policing is around police reform.”
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“That’s a really big, important issue for my constituents and for people up and down the country.
“That’s really what I wanted to focus on today. I’m not able to comment on any of that. I’m not party to any of those, any of those issues. But what I am…”
Isabel interrupted: “Is a breach of the ministerial code in your view? Or is it indeed in line with the rules to lie on your CV? It’s a simple question.”
She said: “There is a ministerial code. I am not party, as I say to the issue that you’re raising, but there is a clear ministerial code.
Isabel grilled the Labour MP
GB News
“The Prime Minister has been very upfront about how he expects ministers to abide by that ministerial code. But could we talk about police reform? Because that’s really the big issue that I’m really passionate about.”
The controversy centres on Reeves’ 2021 interview with Stylist magazine, where she claimed to have spent a decade at the Bank of England.
However, her LinkedIn profile shows she worked there for six years between 2000 and 2006.
The minister dodged the question
GB News
Further questions have emerged about her role at Halifax Bank of Scotland, after claims she described herself as “an economist” during her 2010 Leeds West election campaign.
According to the Guido Fawkes blog, Reeves actually worked in “a mundane support department” handling admin, IT and planning.
A Treasury source responded: “She worked in retail banking covering various areas drawing on her background as an economist. Her LinkedIn has been updated to reflect that.”
The role is now listed on her profile simply as “retail banking” from 2006 to 2009.