Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds' CV – what is supposedly false?

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been accused of creating a false CV after it was reportedly discovered that he frequently identified himself as a solicitor even though he has never qualified. It follows the BBC's revelation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves had misrepresented the length of her tenure at the Bank of England on her LinkedIn profile. She was also under investigation for allegedly using company funds to purchase wine, perfume, purses, and earrings for coworkers at her previous job at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBoS).

The claims have been disputed and, according to Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson, the prime minister supports Ms Reeves and is not worried about her conduct. But what exactly did Mr Reynolds lie about, and what has Labour said?. On his former constituency website, Mr Reynolds reportedly stated that, prior to becoming an MP, he was a solicitor at the Addleshaw Goddard law firm's Manchester office.

It is understood that Mr Reynolds quit his training contract in 2010 to run for parliament. To lawfully practise as a solicitor in England and Wales, candidates must be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). But, because he never finished his training course, Mr Reynolds was not able to register with the body. The cabinet minister, who is responsible for UK business and international trade, does not appear on the SRA’s online register.

As well as the former constituency website, his LinkedIn profile also allegedly stated he was both a “trainee solicitor” and a “solicitor”. Pretending to engage in “reserved legal activity” or using a title that suggests a right to do so is illegal under Section 17 of the Legal Services Act of 2007 and carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of £5,000. This has since been updated to show that he was a trainee solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard between August 2009 and May 2010.

Labour claimed the entry was an error and suggested that a staff member might have written the LinkedIn profile and the previous website. “I think what you’re referring to in terms of LinkedIn … I think there was a bit of a muddle there. But I think he’s been very clear he was a trainee solicitor, that’s the position he held.”. In a separate interview with ITV’s This Morning, she affirmed that “people make mistakes and misspeak”.

“Well, clearly, I think we’re all, as members of parliament, wanting to be clear and upfront about any qualifications or roles that we’ve held, but people make mistakes, administratively things are put down that perhaps are a mistake. And I think, if that’s the case, then it just needs to be corrected.”. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the business secretary told Guido Fawkes his reference to working as a solicitor in 2014 was a mistake. They added that Mr Reynolds tries to make clear he was only ever a trainee.