Since BBC News reported on Thursday that Rachel Reeves had exaggerated her online CV and had been investigated over her use of expenses while working at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS), Labour colleagues have mounted a robust defence of the chancellor.

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.

The Chancellor struggled to answer one simple question about her expenses as she broke her silence following the BBC investigation.

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.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was investigated over her expenses while working as an economist at Halifax Bank of Scotland before she became an MP, a three months probe by the BBC has found. The Chancellor's online employment history was also found to be inaccurate for the second time in two months,