LONDON (AP) — U.K. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves has apologized for breaking the law by renting out her London house without a license.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not take action over what Reeves called an inadvertent mistake.
Reeves and her family moved out of their south London home and into a government-owned apartment next to the prime minister’s Downing Street residence after the Labour Party was elected in July 2024.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported late Wednesday that Reeves did not have a rental license, as required by the local authority in the area. Landlords who don’t have a license can be prosecuted or fined.
In a letter to Starmer, published by the prime minister’s office, Reeves said it was “an inadvertent mistake. As soon as it was brought to my attention, we took immediate action and have applied for the license.”
Starmer replied that he had consulted the government’s ethics adviser, who had concluded that “further investigation is not necessary.”
“I am satisfied that this matter can be drawn to a close following your apology,” he wrote.
The real estate agency Reeves used apologized Thursday for its “oversight” in not applying for a license after promising to do so.
“We deeply regret the issue caused to our clients as they would have been under the impression that a license had been applied for," said Gareth Martin, owner of the firm Harvey Wheeler.
The statement came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said “the whole thing stinks,” and demanded Starmer launch a full investigation.
Reeves is already under pressure over the public finances as she prepares to deliver her annual budget statement on Nov. 26.
The Labour Party government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised. Inflation remains stubbornly high and the economic outlook subdued, frustrating efforts to repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.
Reeves has indicated she may abandon a preelection promise not to raise income tax or sales tax, arguing that the economy is in a worse state than previously thought after 14 years of Conservative government.
Starmer has already lost members of his government to scandal.
In September, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned after failing to pay enough tax on a home purchase. Days later, Starmer fired Britain’s high-profile ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves walks to the G20 meeting during the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Coach Steve Kerr spoke with Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the morning shootaround Thursday about the player's situation being out of the rotation for more than a month now with expectations he will be traded before the deadline next month.
“We talked this morning and that’s all private,” Kerr said. “I will keep coaching him, he’ll be part of the team, he’ll be here. It is what it is.”
Kerr discounted any issues between them as being reason Kuminga has reportedly requested a trade from the team after not being used in the last 14 games since Dec. 18 and 17 of 18 — though he has been listed as injured for nine games this season.
“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said before Golden State's 126-113 win over the New York Knicks. “There's not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It is what it is, difficult situation for everybody and part of this league, part of the job. We just keep moving forward.”
Kuminga has been training much of the time on his own, shooting on the Warriors’ practice floor out of the eyes of fans at Chase Center. He wears a black hood over his head on the end of the bench during games. Perhaps Kuminga and the Warriors weren't a great fit from Day 1 — not that it's his fault — and he might be eager to leave and start fresh elsewhere. If so, the Golden State brass might want to make sure he doesn't get hurt before trying to trade him.
Yet nobody has taken issue with his work ethic, at least not publicly. Kuminga, selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, has been known to stay long after games shooting on the arena's main floor.
“It’s not a distraction at all. It’s a very unique situation but our job is just to keep playing, keep winning, it’ll resolve itself one way or the other,” Stephen Curry said.
The 23-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has appeared in just 18 games total with 13 starts, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
On Sept. 30, he agreed to a two-year contract that could be worth up to $46.5 million if the team were to exercise its option for 2026-27. Kuminga had had a $7.9 million qualifying offer in hand since June 29 but was also weighing other options and he missed media day.
He has long had the support and confidence of teammates — like Jimmy Butler saying he has been having Kuminga over and continuing to encourage him.
“We love JK in this locker room, that's not going to change,” Butler said postgame. “If he happens to not be in here, we'll still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here, I wish him the best wherever. It doesn't change. We don't listen to the noise, I hope he don't listen to the noise he keep coming here with a smile doing what he's supposed to do and being the ultimate pro.”
Kuminga missed much of last season with a right ankle injury. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes over 47 games with 10 starts. He also scored 15.3 points per game over eight playoff games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and making 40% of his 3-point attempts. That included a career-best 30-point performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kerr said the uncertainty around Kuminga's future “won't be a distraction.”
“Jonathan's a great young guy, his teammates like him,” Kerr said. "He's handling himself well.”
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Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, middle, sits near the team bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (1) and Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) swap jerseys after the Warriors defeat the Jazz during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
