Chancellor Rachel Reeves is once more under investigation—for failing to declare complimentary theatre tickets she received over Christmas – just weeks after promising never to accept lavish freebies again.
Reeves accepted four tickets to the National Theatre worth £276 on 27 December 2024, but only added them to the MPs’ register of interests three months later—on 27 March 2025.
That’s a full 60 days past the deadline required by parliamentary rules, and conveniently just days after she had to defend her use of free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert on national television.
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The timing raises eyebrows. The late declaration came four days after Reeves told the BBC she had “no intention of doing that again” and two days after a Politics Live debate grilled her over the concert controversy.
A spokesperson has insisted that Reeves’ interests are “fully declared and up to date.”
But after the Standards Commissioner opened a formal investigation, the question becomes: is this really just another administrative slip—or a pattern of behaviour?
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Of course we have to accept that this is not a new freebie, so Reeves may have kept her promise not to have any more after March 23. But it is an old one that she had not declared until after a row erupted, and we have to question why she admitted it so late.
The excuse of “security” has been rolled out again, with Reeves suggesting public outings now require planning and protection.
But critics argue that accepting expensive gifts while holding one of the most powerful offices in the UK isn’t just poor optics—it’s a breach of trust.
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This incident follows a wider trend in the Labour leadership: in 2022, Keir Starmer was found to have broken the same rules over football match tickets. He, at least, issued an apology.
For a government that pledged transparency and integrity, the growing list of “forgotten” freebies is starting to look less like forgetfulness—and more like contempt for the rules.
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Rachel Reeves under new investigation for yet another undeclared freebie
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is once more under investigation—for failing to declare complimentary theatre tickets she received over Christmas – just weeks after promising never to accept lavish freebies again.
Reeves accepted four tickets to the National Theatre worth £276 on 27 December 2024, but only added them to the MPs’ register of interests three months later—on 27 March 2025.
That’s a full 60 days past the deadline required by parliamentary rules, and conveniently just days after she had to defend her use of free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert on national television.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £3 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
The timing raises eyebrows. The late declaration came four days after Reeves told the BBC she had “no intention of doing that again” and two days after a Politics Live debate grilled her over the concert controversy.
A spokesperson has insisted that Reeves’ interests are “fully declared and up to date.”
But after the Standards Commissioner opened a formal investigation, the question becomes: is this really just another administrative slip—or a pattern of behaviour?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Of course we have to accept that this is not a new freebie, so Reeves may have kept her promise not to have any more after March 23. But it is an old one that she had not declared until after a row erupted, and we have to question why she admitted it so late.
The excuse of “security” has been rolled out again, with Reeves suggesting public outings now require planning and protection.
But critics argue that accepting expensive gifts while holding one of the most powerful offices in the UK isn’t just poor optics—it’s a breach of trust.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
This incident follows a wider trend in the Labour leadership: in 2022, Keir Starmer was found to have broken the same rules over football match tickets. He, at least, issued an apology.
For a government that pledged transparency and integrity, the growing list of “forgotten” freebies is starting to look less like forgetfulness—and more like contempt for the rules.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £3 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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