By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2024-11-26 11:39:12 | Updated at 2024-11-26 13:21:36
1 hour ago
Employment Minister Alison McGovern dodged direct questioning about Rachel Reeves' CV controversy today, during a tense exchange on GB News with Isabel Webster.
The row came after Rachel Reeves altered her profile on LinkedIn, and changed "economist" to "retail banking" for her time at HSBC between 2006-2009.
Isabel asked the Employment Minister: "What would you say to anybody who's thinking about doctoring their CV?
"Would that be considered within the rules? I ask because, of course, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been found guilty of that although she is facing no repercussions for it."
McGovern said: "I'm sorry, but she was an economist at the Bank of England."
Isabel fired back: "But not the dates that she claimed."
McGovern responded: " I'm not really sure what we're arguing about here."
She added: "As I've said, people should stick to the rules. You've put to me some kind of allegation that Rachel Reeves is not an economist, when in fact she is, and she's a very well qualified person to be Chancellor."
Rachel Reeves changed her LinkedIn profile
GB News
The Guido Fawkes political website reported Reeves had worked in a support department at the Bank of Scotland managing administration, IT and planning matters during her time at HSBC.
In her recent Mansion House speech, Reeves told guests: "Before entering politics, I worked as an economist at the Bank of England. And then in financial services."
She has also faced questions over a 2021 Stylist magazine interview claim that she spent a decade at the Bank of England, while her LinkedIn showed a six-year period from 2000 to 2006.
Downing Street has refused to clarify whether Ms Reeves broke the ministerial code amid these accusations.
Employment Minister Alison McGovern said that she has no idea what Isabel was referring too
GB News
A No10 spokeswoman sidestepped questions about CV accuracy, instead praising Reeves: "This is someone who on coming into office looked under the bonnet and exposed a £22 billion black hole in the public finances."
A Tory source said: "Rachel Reeves has serious questions to answer - questions we have asked her, and questions which the public deserve an answer to."
The CV controversy dominated Prime Minister's Questions last week, with multiple MPs raising the issue.
Reform UK's Lee Anderson asked if a decision should be "thrown in the trash can along with Rachel from accounts' CV."
