What discrepancies were found in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' claims about her work experience at the Bank of England, and why does this matter?

A BBC investigation revealed significant discrepancies in Rachel Reeves' professional background claims. While her LinkedIn profile stated she worked at the Bank of England from September 2000 to December 2006, evidence shows she actually left in March 2006 to join Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOSS). This means her tenure was five and a half years, not "the best part of a decade" as she repeatedly claimed in speeches and interviews. The discrepancy matters because Reeves has consistently used her Bank of England experience as a key credential to establish her credibility in managing the country's finances as Chancellor. The investigation included photographic evidence and testimony from former HBOSS HR staff confirming her March 2006 start date, making the timeline discrepancy undeniable and raising questions about transparency in political representation.