Rachel Reeves has said she never planned to accept clothing donations once she became Chancellor, despite accepting a reported £7,500 for outfits from a friend while in opposition.
Reeves is one of several senior Labour figures at the centre of a row after accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes as gifts before the election.
In an effort to draw a line under the controversy, Downing Street confirmed on Friday that Reeves, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner would no longer accept donations for clothing.
Reeves told the BBC the donations “helped me in opposition” but were “never something I planned to do as a government minister”.
The relationship between the Labour’s leadership and senior donors has come under scrutiny since after it emerged Sir Keir has received more than £16,000 for work clothing from Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli.
The Conservatives had asked the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg to investigate why gifts covering a personal shopper and clothing alterations for Sir Keir’s wife were not initially declared in the MPs’ register of interests.
It emerged in August Lord Alli had been given a temporary Downing Street security pass despite having no formal government role.
The Financial Times also reported Reeves had received £7,500 for clothing from Labour donor Juliet Rosenfeld, paid over 17-months before July’s general election.
In an interview with the BBC, Reeves described Ms Rosenfeld as “an old friend” who wanted to support her work as shadow chancellor.
The donations made “a big difference,” helping her “look smart for big events and the campaign trail,” Reeves said.
The Chancellor said she “declared all of those donations in the proper way” and added: “It’s never something that I planned to do as a government minister, but it did help me in opposition.”
None of the gifts she has accepted “bring me into conflict in any way in the decisions that I make as Chancellor,” she added.
Reeves confirmed she will wear a suit she purchased for her speech at the Labour Party conference, where she is set to offer a brighter view of the economy following Labour’s recent bleak messaging.
Speaking ahead of her speech Reeves said there will be “difficult choices” but the country’s “best days lie ahead”.
