Rachel Reeves is being investigated by parliament’s standards commissioner, it has emerged, less than 24 hours before voters go to the polls in England’s local elections.
The probe, understood to be into free theatre tickets, comes as a blow to Labour ahead of what are expected to be a difficult set of elections.
Earlier this year, Ms Reeves was forced to announce she would not accept future “freebie” concert tickets after her decision to accept a seat in a box to watch singer Sabrina Carpenter reignited a furious row.
The new probe comes after the chancellor attended a show at the National Theatre over Christmas but did not add the donation to her MPs’ register of interests until March. MPs have to register donations within 28 days.
It has previously been reported that she saw an adaptation of the classic children’s novel Ballet Shoes at the theatre over the festive period.
As well as a register for interests for MPs, there is also a separate one for ministers, where it is understood that the tickets were declared on time.
A spokesperson for Ms Reeves said: “The chancellor’s interests are fully declared and up to date.”
Ms Reeves faced fire from MPs, including a government minister, for receiving hospitality at the Sabrina Carpenter concert as she prepared to slash £5bn from the welfare bill.
Last year, she also pledged she would not accept any more free clothes from donors after days of negative headlines over “wardrobe-gate”.
The abrupt change of policy followed a furious row just before Labour’s annual conference.
It erupted after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer did not initially declare clothing bought for his wife Victoria by Waheed Alli, who has given more than £500,000 to Labour over the last 20 years.
The Labour leader was also embroiled in a row over his decision to accept more than £100,000 in gifts.
In what was dubbed “passes for glasses”, Lord Alli also gave the PM tens of thousands of pounds worth of clothing and accommodation, including “multiple pairs” of spectacles.
The standards commissioner’s website says that its inquiry, which opened on Tuesday, is under paragraph 5 of the code of conduct.
This says that “members must fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. New members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days.”
