The prime minister and his independent ethics adviser have received "new information" about Rachel Reeves' rental arrangements
A No 10 spokesman says: "Following a review of emails sent and received by the chancellor's husband, new information has come to light"
The spokesman adds: "The prime minister has full confidence in the chancellor"
On Wednesday, it emerged Reeves did not have the necessary licence from Southwark Council to rent out her family home when she moved to Downing Street
Sir Keir Starmer earlier dismissed calls for an investigation after Reeves admitted her "inadvertent error" and apologised
Sources close to the chancellor said her letting agent told her it would advise her if a selective licence was needed and did not do so
Edited by Owen Amos and Rorey Bosotti
Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent
There’s been something of a sense of déjà vu around Westminster today, with another senior cabinet minister caught up in a row about a house they own.
Just weeks after Angela Rayner was forced to resign as deputy prime minister after it emerged that she’d underpaid stamp duty, now it’s the chancellor having to answer questions.
The prime minister has dismissed calls for a full investigation into Rachel Reeves' case – but today his official spokesman refused to answer a whole host of questions.
Starmer had a brief exchange last night with the independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, during which it was decided that an apology was "a sufficient resolution".
Magnus is now reviewing emails about the rental arrangements that were sent and received by the chancellor’s husband.
But Downing Street has refused to say whether Magnus believed the chancellor broke the ministerial code.
The spokesman also refused to say whether he was able to view any evidence, other than the chancellor’s own account of what happened, and refused to say if Reeves will resign if she broke the law.
Sources close to the chancellor have said that her letting agent told her it would advise her if the licence was needed and did not do so. That may turn out to be enough to let her off the hook.
But for a prime minister who made such a big deal out of ministerial standards when he was in opposition, this is yet another difficult day.
Sources close to Rachel Reeves say the letting agent tasked with renting out her family home told the chancellor it would tell her if a selective licence was needed, and did not do so.
Visited this afternoon by BBC News, the Dulwich-based estate agent says they will not comment on the story.
A little earlier, we heard from Southwark Council, from whom Reeves should have bought the licence.
The council said it only takes enforcement action against landlords who do not apply for a licence within 21 days of receiving a warning.
"When we become aware of an unlicensed property, we issue a warning letter advising the landlord that they have 21 days to apply for a licence – enforcement action such as fines are reserved for those who do not apply within that time or where a property is found to be in an unsafe condition.
"We cannot comment on individual cases."
It's not yet clear if Southwark Council issued a warning letter to Reeves – or when the council became aware she was breaking the rules.
On Wednesday, Rachel Reeves admitted she did not obtain a licence needed to rent out her south London home.
After Labour won the general election in July 2024, Reeves' family home was put up for rent for £3,200 a month.
It is in part of Southwark where the council requires private landlords to hold a selective licence, which cost £945.
In a letter to Keir Starmer, the chancellor apologised for her "inadvertent" error in not applying for the licence.
The issue came to her attention, she says, when the Daily Mail approached her for a comment.
"This was an inadvertent mistake," she wrote in her letter. "As soon as it was brought to my attention, we took immediate action and have applied for the licence."
Starmer dismissed calls for an investigation after consulting his independent ethics adviser.
More now from the prime minister's official spokesperson.
He says: "Following a review of emails sent and received by the chancellor’s husband, new information has come to light.
“This has now been passed to the prime minister and his independent adviser.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Starmer was told about the further information this afternoon by the chancellor. The emails will be published later today.
The spokesman continues: "It is the right that the independent adviser on ministerial standards looks at all the relevant correspondence on this matter since the new information has come to light."
No 10 has insisted the prime minister has full confidence in the chancellor.
The prime minister's official spokesperson guaranteed that Rachel Reeves will deliver the Budget on 26 November.
Sir Keir Starmer and his independent ethics watchdog have been passed "new information" about Chancellor Rachel Reeves's rental arrangements, Downing Street says.
The information relates to emails sent and received by her husband, according to No 10.
This latest development comes after Reeves apologised for breaking rules when renting out her family home by not obtaining a licence.
This is a developing situation – we will bring you more detail soon.
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