What Rachel Reeves said on her CV vs her actual experience
An analysis of Ms. Reeves' assertions regarding her resume and professional background in relation to her actual job history.
Dominic Penna, Political Reporter
Sure! Here's a rewritten version of that blog section in simpler terms: November 18, 2024, at 5:34 PM GMT.
Rachel Reeves has come under scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting her background after it was revealed that her online resume had been refreshed, seemingly inflating her qualifications as an economist.
The Chancellor faced backlash from prominent members of the Conservative Party, such as Robert Jenrick and former government advisors, following her decision to modify her CV for a more precise representation of her background.
Here's a comparison between the statements Ms. Reeves made regarding her CV and work experience and what is actually reflected in her employment history.
On November 15, she faced allegations of dishonesty regarding her employment history after it was revealed that she had discreetly revised her online resume following a report from the Guido Fawkes website.
The political blog argued that she made a mistake by stating that she was employed as an economist at the Bank of Scotland from 2006 to 2009 before running for election. Following this, her LinkedIn profile was updated to show that she actually worked for three years in retail banking at Halifax, which is the parent company of the Bank of Scotland.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, criticized Ms. Reeves, claiming she was not entirely truthful, while members of the Conservative Party accused her of misleading others.
According to a Treasury insider, Ms. Reeves revised her online resume to highlight her experience in retail banking because it showcases her qualifications as an economist.
The alteration still led to uncomfortable headlines for Downing Street and the Treasury, as sources declined to clarify if it was a modification or a correction.
Ms. Reeves has faced allegations of overstating the duration of her employment at the Bank of England. During an interview with Stylist magazine in 2021, the Chancellor mentioned that she had worked as an economist at the Bank for ten years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
This wasn’t the first time she had made a statement like this before taking office as Chancellor. In a video from September 2022, she mentioned, “I spent nearly ten years working at the Bank of England.”
However, her LinkedIn profile indicates that she was employed at the Bank for a little more than six years, beginning in September 2000 and concluding in December 2006.
It also explains that she spent a year and a half from 2002 to 2003 on assignment at the British Embassy in Washington DC, where she served as the second secretary in the economic division. During her first year at the Bank, she was a student at the London School of Economics, working in the international economic analysis division.
In addition to the duration of Ms. Reeves' employment at the Bank, there are also inquiries regarding her level of seniority while she was there.
In a recent series of posts showcasing her qualifications on X, previously known as Twitter, she mentioned, "Having worked as an economist at the Bank of England, I understand what is needed to restore the UK’s economy."
Other articles on the platform mentioned that her experience at the Bank helped her understand "the significance of stability in our economy," "the essentials of managing a thriving economy," and "the importance of independent economic organizations."
However, a different article, originally from 2012 but only becoming public on November 18 of this year, mentioned in reaction to a now-deleted tweet: "That's right – I first encountered him when I was a rookie Japan analyst at the Bank of England over a decade ago!"
Henry Newman, who previously advised Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, remarked, “Rachel Reeves has consistently leveraged her experience at the Bank of England to position herself as qualified for the role of Chancellor.”
In reality, she acknowledged the truth in a tweet from 2012, where she referred to the position as being a "very junior" analyst. While some might argue that these statements are minor exaggerations or trivial criticisms, I see it differently.
