Rachel Reeves stars in a new viral video mocking her over a breach of housing rules – this time alongside former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The Chancellor had already become an unlikely rap ‘star’ in an artificial intelligence video earlier this week after being accused of breaking the law by renting out her family home without a licence since entering Downing Street.
Ms Reeves has referred herself to the independent ethics adviser and had to admit her error to the Prime Minister after inquiries by the Daily Mail.
On Thursday a video was widely shared online, making fun of the cabinet minister while purporting to have her boasting about the breach – showing her suggesting in a rap: ‘I don’t have a licence.’
Now a social media account behind that video has shared a new one, saying: ‘It’s The Crewkerne Gazette’s two biggest stars brought together for the duet that you never wanted or asked for – Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, Scandal Queens.’
Ms Reeves failed to obtain a rental licence when she placed her family home in Dulwich, south London, on the rental market last year as she moved with her family into Number 11 Downing Street.
The Chancellor put her four-bedroom detached house on the market for £3,200 a month last year, and her register of interests states she has received rental income since September 2024.
Southwark Council, the local authority, requires that private landlords in certain areas – including the one where her house is located – obtain a ‘selective’ licence to rent out their property.
But she admitted that she was unaware of the licensing requirement and, following inquiries by the Daily Mail, applied for the licence.
Comments posted in response to the video mocking Ms Reeves and Ms Rayner include ‘A right cracker this one’ and ‘Brilliant’.
The clip shows the pair appearing along with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and is a parody of Robin Thicke’s worldwide chart-topping single Blurred Lines – renamed ‘Scandal Lines’.
Lyrics include: ‘If you can’t hear what we’re trying to say, Keir’s throwing mud near Downing Way.
‘Maybe we’ve lost the way, maybe we’re on page five, maybe we’ve killed the vibe.’
The chorus runs: ‘Scandal queens – we know you’ve seen it.’
After the story was broken this week by the Mail, a spokesman for Ms Reeves said: ‘Since becoming Chancellor Rachel Reeves has rented out her family home through a lettings agency.
‘She had not been made aware of the licensing requirement, but as soon as it was brought to her attention she took immediate action and has applied for the licence.
‘This was an inadvertent mistake and in the spirit of transparency she has made the Prime Minister, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards aware.’
She took immediate action following the Daily Mail’s inquiries, and an application for the licence was submitted yesterday.
The Chancellor informed the Prime Minister in a letter and apologised to him and Sir Keir said a further investigation is ‘not necessary’ after he consulted his independent ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.
‘I am satisfied that this matter can be drawn to a close following your apology,’ the PM added.
Southwark Council, like many other local authorities, requires that private landlords in certain areas obtain a ‘selective’ licence.
This has applied to most private residential properties rented to single families or unrelated tenants in the borough since November 2023.
There are few exemptions to requiring this type of licence – including if the property already has an HMO (house in multiple occupation) licence, is used as a holiday let or for religious purposes, or if the owner also resides in the property as their main home.
It is not thought that any of these apply to Ms Reeves.
Southwark Council said the licences were brought in to ‘improve safety, security and quality for people living in private rented homes’.
The new videos are reminiscent of a similar spoof from last month, after the resignation of Ms Reeves’ Labour cabinet colleague Ms Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister.
Ms Rayner was transformed on screen into a brash rapper who declares: ‘Starmer blushing, I’m still fine, you pay full tax, I skip the line.’
That AI clip was widely shared online when Ms Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary after failing to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.
The creator, who wants to remain anonymous, told the Daily Mail this week: ‘It’s really a case of holding to account officials that do really awful things.
‘This one was initially meant for Rayner but she resigned before we could use it so we’ve saved it.
‘It is ironic because Rachel Reeves has been at the forefront of championing AI.’
The creator has been posting witty political content online for 10 years, originally starting in the US as an unofficial part of Trump’s election campaign.
But he wishes to remain anonymous because he fears freedom of speech is being clamped down on in the UK.
‘I stay anonymous because people have been given lengthy prison sentences for posting online.
‘It’s very hard to know what the government are going to turn into.
‘The videos appeal to young people which is important because Starmer is lowering the age of the vote for the next election,’ the creator said.
‘It’s important that younger people do have something that they can relate to politically to give them the full facts, even if it’s Rachel Reeves wearing a tracksuit rapping.’
