Rachel Reeves has said that she was never questioned about her expenses during her time working at Halifax Bank of Scotland.The chancellor was responding to a BBC report which found evidence of an internal inquiry into the spending habits of Ms Reeves and two other colleagues on their company cards but it appears that the investigation was never escalated to the point where action was taken.

Rachel Reeves has defended herself from claims she was the subject of an investigation into her expenses while working at a retail bank, saying she was "never questioned" on the issue. In her first comments since the BBC reported she had been subject to an investigation while working at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS),

Rachel Reeves is under mounting pressure over allegations she used company expenses in a former job to buy handbags, perfume, earrings and wine for colleagues, and exaggerated her Bank of England experience on her CV.