[bots]

On the professional networking site LinkedIn, the Chancellor of the Exchequer claimed to have worked as an economist at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) immediately before becoming an MP.

One of those who challenged it was a retired former colleague, Kev Gillett.

In a public post on LinkedIn, which he asked followers to share, he wrote: "Back in 2009 Rt Hon Rachel Reeves worked 3 levels below me. Just facts. She was a Complaints Support Manager at LBG/HBOS. Not an Economist. #factcheck."

In fact it emerged that she had worked in a managerial role within the bank's complaint handling department and her LinkedIn profile was updated to remove the claim.

Gillett also made another claim about Reeves's time at the bank from 2006 to 2009, writing that she: "Nearly got sacked due to an expenses scandal where the 3 senior managers were all signing off each others expenses."

Reeves's team vigorously denied the allegations.

However, Labour's imminent victory in last summer's general election prompted a post on a private Facebook group for former HBOS employees that BBC News has seen asking if anyone remembered Reeves.

One former employee replied: "the expenses dept certainly do!"

Several others made reference to Reeves being investigated over her expenses spending.

BBC News has been seeking the truth behind these suggestions, speaking to more than 20 people, many of whom were former colleagues, and gaining access to receipts, emails and other documents.

We have learnt that there was an expenses investigation into Reeves and two other senior managers.

A detailed six-page whistleblowing complaint and dozens of pages of attached evidence, which we have seen, raised concerns that the three managers were using the bank's money to "fund a lifestyle" with allegedly inappropriate spending on dinners, events, taxis and gifts, including for each other.

We have not been able to establish what the final outcome of the investigation was. Indeed it may not have concluded.

But the initial part of the investigation, which was conducted by Internal Audit at the request of the bank's risk department, found that the three managers appeared to have broken the rules and the whistleblower's allegations were substantiated, according to a senior source with knowledge of the investigation.

A spokesman for Reeves said the Chancellor had no knowledge of the investigation, always complied with expenses rules and left the bank on good terms.

Reeves was in her 20s and trying to become an MP when she took up a job at Halifax Bank of Scotland in West Yorkshire in 2006.

The role required her to move north from London, where she had unsuccessfully stood as Labour's parliamentary candidate in what had been a safe Conservative seat.

She initially worked in the mortgage department, but in late 2007 moved to become Head of Business Planning in the Customer Relations department, which handled complaints.

Her career at HBOS coincided with what would prove to be a tumultuous time for the bank.

The global financial crisis which began in late summer of 2007 would force the sector to embark on a massive programme of job cuts and cost savings.

In September 2008, HBOS itself came close to collapse, requiring a government-brokered takeover by Lloyds and an emergency bailout which would total £20.5bn of taxpayers' money.

It was shortly after this near-collapse, by early 2009, that a whistleblower from her department raised concerns about the spending habits of Reeves and two other managers, one of whom was Reeves's boss.

The whistleblower's complaint submitted by early 2009 was a six-page document laying out a range of concerns about an alleged spending culture in the Customer Relations department.

It focused on the behaviour of three individuals: Reeves, Reeves's boss, and another senior manager in the department. Reeves's boss, who we are not naming, was responsible for signing off the expenses of the other two managers.

The report and attached receipts and other documents seen by BBC News show Reeves was accused of spending hundreds of pounds on handbags, perfume, earrings and wine for colleagues, including one gift for her boss. Concern was also expressed about her spending on taxis and on a Christmas party. The whistleblower believed the spending to be excessive.

After a call to the whistleblowing hotline, the whistleblower was instructed to hand in a physical copy of their report and supporting evidence, two sources said.

A separate source, who contacted BBC News themselves in the wake of an article on the furore around Reeves's CV last year, was also aware that someone had blown the whistle on Reeves and another colleague.

The report was passed to the bank's risk department and, at their request, was taken on by the Internal Audit department.

A source who worked in risk at the bank told us: "Given the nature of the allegations – claiming expenses for things you wouldn't normally claim expenses for – and the relative seniority of the individuals, the matter was referred for investigation by a team outside of that department."

The Internal Audit department, which had access to expenses claims and sign-offs, then assessed the complaint and supporting documents, according to two sources.

It found that there was evidence of apparent wrongdoing by the three senior managers including Reeves, a senior source with direct knowledge of the investigation told BBC News.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg75jr5284o

Funny how she has no problem cutting the expenses payments of the elderly and disabled

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bots

On the professional networking site LinkedIn, the Chancellor of the Exchequer claimed to have worked as an economist at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) immediately before becoming an MP.

One of those who challenged it was a retired former colleague, Kev Gillett.

In a public post on LinkedIn, which he asked followers to share, he wrote: "Back in 2009 Rt Hon Rachel Reeves worked 3 levels below me. Just facts. She was a Complaints Support Manager at LBG/HBOS. Not an Economist. #factcheck."

In fact it emerged that she had worked in a managerial role within the bank's complaint handling department and her LinkedIn profile was updated to remove the claim.

Gillett also made another claim about Reeves's time at the bank from 2006 to 2009, writing that she: "Nearly got sacked due to an expenses scandal where the 3 senior managers were all signing off each others expenses."

Reeves's team vigorously denied the allegations.

However, Labour's imminent victory in last summer's general election prompted a post on a private Facebook group for former HBOS employees that BBC News has seen asking if anyone remembered Reeves.

One former employee replied: "the expenses dept certainly do!"

Several others made reference to Reeves being investigated over her expenses spending.

BBC News has been seeking the truth behind these suggestions, speaking to more than 20 people, many of whom were former colleagues, and gaining access to receipts, emails and other documents.

We have learnt that there was an expenses investigation into Reeves and two other senior managers.

A detailed six-page whistleblowing complaint and dozens of pages of attached evidence, which we have seen, raised concerns that the three managers were using the bank's money to "fund a lifestyle" with allegedly inappropriate spending on dinners, events, taxis and gifts, including for each other.

We have not been able to establish what the final outcome of the investigation was. Indeed it may not have concluded.

But the initial part of the investigation, which was conducted by Internal Audit at the request of the bank's risk department, found that the three managers appeared to have broken the rules and the whistleblower's allegations were substantiated, according to a senior source with knowledge of the investigation.

A spokesman for Reeves said the Chancellor had no knowledge of the investigation, always complied with expenses rules and left the bank on good terms.

Reeves was in her 20s and trying to become an MP when she took up a job at Halifax Bank of Scotland in West Yorkshire in 2006.

The role required her to move north from London, where she had unsuccessfully stood as Labour's parliamentary candidate in what had been a safe Conservative seat.

She initially worked in the mortgage department, but in late 2007 moved to become Head of Business Planning in the Customer Relations department, which handled complaints.

Her career at HBOS coincided with what would prove to be a tumultuous time for the bank.

The global financial crisis which began in late summer of 2007 would force the sector to embark on a massive programme of job cuts and cost savings.

In September 2008, HBOS itself came close to collapse, requiring a government-brokered takeover by Lloyds and an emergency bailout which would total £20.5bn of taxpayers' money.

It was shortly after this near-collapse, by early 2009, that a whistleblower from her department raised concerns about the spending habits of Reeves and two other managers, one of whom was Reeves's boss.

The whistleblower's complaint submitted by early 2009 was a six-page document laying out a range of concerns about an alleged spending culture in the Customer Relations department.

It focused on the behaviour of three individuals: Reeves, Reeves's boss, and another senior manager in the department. Reeves's boss, who we are not naming, was responsible for signing off the expenses of the other two managers.

The report and attached receipts and other documents seen by BBC News show Reeves was accused of spending hundreds of pounds on handbags, perfume, earrings and wine for colleagues, including one gift for her boss. Concern was also expressed about her spending on taxis and on a Christmas party. The whistleblower believed the spending to be excessive.

After a call to the whistleblowing hotline, the whistleblower was instructed to hand in a physical copy of their report and supporting evidence, two sources said.

A separate source, who contacted BBC News themselves in the wake of an article on the furore around Reeves's CV last year, was also aware that someone had blown the whistle on Reeves and another colleague.

The report was passed to the bank's risk department and, at their request, was taken on by the Internal Audit department.

A source who worked in risk at the bank told us: "Given the nature of the allegations – claiming expenses for things you wouldn't normally claim expenses for – and the relative seniority of the individuals, the matter was referred for investigation by a team outside of that department."

The Internal Audit department, which had access to expenses claims and sign-offs, then assessed the complaint and supporting documents, according to two sources.

It found that there was evidence of apparent wrongdoing by the three senior managers including Reeves, a senior source with direct knowledge of the investigation told BBC News.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg75jr5284o

Funny how she has no problem cutting the expenses payments of the elderly and disabled

and don't forget she didn't forego her own heating allowance of 3K a year to help the black hole, the above is farcical that someone who was under investigation for expenses fiddling is now Chancellor, God only knows what she claims for now

[UserSince2005]

I wouldnt trust her to look after my dog, and im not even joking.

[Oliver_W]

She's just another lying politician, with her snout firmly in the trough.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

She's just another lying politician, with her snout firmly in the trough.

THIS

[arista]

BBC News Text :
[The Daily Mail leads with a story
about Rachel Reeves coming under pressure
after questions were raised about
the accuracy of the chancellor's online CV,
and the use of expenses while working at a bank,
in the wake of a BBC News investigation.]

[arista]

[Gusto Brunt]

I've lied on my CV, but I am not the Chancellor.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Gusto Brunt

I've lied on my CV, but I am not the Chancellor.

…if only her lie was that she was the Chancellor but shockingly that bits the truth…

[Gusto Brunt]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…if only her lie was that she was the Chancellor but shockingly that bits the truth…

Good one.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…if only her lie was that she was the Chancellor but shockingly that bits the truth…