PRESSURE grew on Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the row over her unlicensed letting of a property in south London escalated today.

Campaigners demanded a full investigation into her actions, which many argue breached the law, while Tory politicians called on her to resign.

A beleaguered Downing Street was standing by Ms Reeves, insisting that her apology for failing to secure a local authority licence before renting out her home in Dulwich was sufficient to end the matter.

However, a No 10 spokesman was unable to confirm that Ms Reeves had not breached the ministerial code, falling foul of which has recently terminated the cabinet career of Angela Rayner.

He also ducked questions as to whether Ms Reeves may have broken the law, and hid behind the view of official ethics adviser Laurie Magnus that no further investigation was required.

In truth, PM Sir Keir Starmer could hardly survive the loss of Ms Reeves at this stage. It would likely finally bring down the curtain on his premiership.

Anny Cullum, political officer for national renters and community union Acorn, said: “It is totally unacceptable that yet again a senior government figure has failed to comply with housing regulations.

“Landlord licensing is an important tool local councils can use to stamp down on this and ensure tenants aren’t living in harmful environments.

“The Chancellor cannot be allowed to get away with this without an investigation into herself, the agency she used, and receiving the maximum fine from the local authority for letting without a licence — otherwise what message is the government sending to rogue landlords? 

“The outcome of the investigation should include options up to dismissal.”

Tory foreign affairs spokeswoman Priti Patel waded in, demanding that “Southwark Council must now take action on Rachel Reeves and prosecute her.”

And her boss Kemi Badenoch said Ms Reeves could not get away with blaming her letting agent for the error, as she has been doing.

“She is the Chancellor. She needs to be on top of her paperwork. She was aware of this legislation. I think there should be an investigation.

“The bottom line is that Keir Starmer said again and again, that lawbreakers shouldn’t be lawmakers. So if she’s broken the law, then he should apply his own rules to her,” Ms Badenoch said, adding for good measure that if the Chancellor put up taxes in the forthcoming Budget she should quit anyway.