UK Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves has issued a public apology for renting out her London residence without the required license, a legal oversight that has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. The incident came to light after a report by The Daily Mail revealed that Reeves, who moved into a government-owned apartment near Downing Street following the Labour Party’s July 2024 election victory, failed to secure the necessary permit for her property. In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Reeves described the lapse as an “inadvertent mistake” and confirmed that her team had since applied for the license. Starmer, after consulting the government’s ethics adviser, stated that no further investigation was necessary, accepting Reeves’ apology and closing the matter. However, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the handling of the issue, calling for a full investigation and labeling the situation as problematic. The controversy adds to the challenges facing Reeves, who is preparing to deliver her annual budget statement on November 26 amid a struggling economy, high inflation, and subdued growth. The Labour government, which has yet to deliver on its economic promises, is also grappling with internal scandals, including the recent resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner over a tax dispute and the dismissal of UK Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson due to his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.