Rachel Reeves has been “straightforward” with the British public about her career and history as an economist, Downing Street has insisted.

The intervention came after the chancellor was caught editing her work experience page on LinkedIn on Friday amid allegations she misled people about her time at Bank of Scotland.

Ms Reeves has sparked accusations that she lied and misled the public over her claims that she spent years as an economist before entering politics.

In October, the Guido Fawkes website revealed that while she claimed to have worked as an “economist” at the Bank of Scotland between 2006 and 2009, she actually had a more menial job, working in a support that handles administration, IT and planning issues.

However, on Friday, just hours after being hit with dire economic growth figures, Ms Reeves was caught quietly editing her LinkedIn CV to reflect her true role.

On her social media account, the Halifax job has now been subtly edited from “economist” to “retail banking”.

A Treasury source has now admitted: “She has worked in retail banking, covering various areas, drawing on her experience as an economist. Her LinkedIn has been updated to reflect this.”

Over the weekend, she also faces allegations that she overworked her working hours at the Bank of England, where she started her career.

In a 2021 interview with Stylist magazine, she claimed to have “spent a decade” as an economist at the Bank of England.

However, her Linkedin reveals that she only spent six years working there.

Finally stepping in line today, Keir StarmerThe official spokesman defended Ms Reeves as someone who had been “upfront with the public” in response to widespread criticism.

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that Reeves had exaggerated his CV, the Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters at this morning’s briefing: “The Prime Minister is very clear that the Chancellor has restored financial stability.”

“This is someone who, on coming into office, looked under the hood and exposed a £22bn black hole in the public finances and was straight with the public about what was needed to balance the books and restore stability financial in front of it. “

Asked again about the stories, the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is very clear that this is a chancellor who has been straight with the public about the state of the public finances and what is needed to restore financial stability. That’s the most important thing.”

On Friday, a Conservative Party source accused Ms Reeves of “deception”, telling the Express: “It appears that the claims about Rachel Reeves’ employment history are as accurate as her promises not to raise tax on working people – based on deception and proved increasingly false”.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick joked: “Reeves said she was an economist. It seems she’s just economical with the truth.”

The talk came after she used her inaugural speech at the Mansion House last week to reiterate her previous history as an economist, telling City professionals: “Before I entered politics I worked as an economist at the Bank of England . And then in financial services.”