The mastermind behind the viral AI video depicting a scandal-embroiled Rachel Reeves as a rap artist has disclosed that he crafted it to spotlight the Chancellor’s accountability after she violated housing regulations.
This humorous clip, which satirizes Ms. Reeves, hit social media a mere three hours following the Daily Mail’s report that the Labour minister had neglected to secure a rental licence before listing her property for lease.
Facing allegations of legal breaches, the Chancellor took the step of referring herself to the independent ethics adviser on Wednesday night, having confessed her oversight to the Prime Minister after the Mail’s inquiries.
Last year, Ms. Reeves listed her four-bedroom detached residence in Dulwich, south London, for £3,200 per month as she relocated to Number 11 Downing Street. Her register of interests confirms she has been earning rental income since September 2024.
Southwark Council mandates that private landlords in designated areas, such as where her home is situated, secure a ‘selective’ licence to legally lease their properties.
The Leeds West and Pudsey MP admitted her ignorance of the licence requirement but has since taken steps to apply for it.
The satirical video, posted on social media by video creator Crewkerne Gazette, shows a tracksuit clad Chancellor rapping about the breach.
‘I don’t have a licence,’ the AI character boasts.
The creator of the viral artificial intelligence video showing Rachel Reeves as a rap star has revealed he made it to hold the Chancellor to account after she breached housing laws
The video was shared on social media just three hours after the Daily Mail revealed she had failed to obtain a rental licence before placing her home on the market
It was made by the same person who posted an AI video of Angela Rayner rapping after failing to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove
The creator has made a string of political satire videos and their AI clip of Angela Rayner went viral when she resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary after failing to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.
‘It’s really a case of holding to account officials that do really awful things,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘This one was initially meant for Rayner but she resigned before we could use it so we’ve saved it.
‘It is ironic because Rachel Reeves has been at the forefront of championing AI’.
The creator has been posting witty political content online for ten years, originally starting in the US as an unofficial part of Trump’s election campaign.
But he wishes to remain anonymous because he fears freedom of speech is being clamped down on in the UK.
‘I stay anonymous because people have been given lengthy prison sentences for posting online.
‘It’s very hard to know what the government are going to turn into.
‘We have a long tradition of satire but you just don’t know in this climate, with some of the recent arrests such as Graham Linehan.’
Ms Reeves failed to obtain a rental licence when she placed her family home in Dulwich (pictured) on the rental market last year as she moved with her family into Number 11 Downing Street
He has ambitious plans for future videos and is aiming for commercial success.
‘What we are going for next is the Christmas number one and I’m very confident that we’re gonna achieve it.
‘It’s a song about the state of the country and we’re going to donate the profit to raise money for victims of grooming gangs.
‘We’ve also got a duet coming out with Reeves and Rayner called ‘Scam Lines’ which is based on the beat from Blurred lines by Pharrell Williams.
‘We did one called Farage Like Garage and he actually shared it online.
The new video is reminiscent of a similar spoof about Ms Rayner.
She was transformed on screen into a brash rapper who declares: ‘Starmer blushing, I’m still fine, you pay full tax, I skip the line.’
‘The videos appeal to young people which is important because Starmer is lowering the age of the vote for the next election,’ the creator said.
‘It’s important that younger people do have something that they can relate to politically to give them the full facts, even if it’s Rachel Reeves wearing a tracksuit rapping.’
He added: ‘I think if she wore that outfit in real life it would be an upgrade on her current attire. It would be more relatable to most of the country right now.’
Inside her property is pictured. Failing to obtain a licence when required is a criminal offence
Southwark Council policy states that it seeks an ‘informal approach’ if the landlord cooperates and submits a valid application along with the appropriate fee ‘within a reasonable time scale’
After the Mail revealed the Chancellor had broken the rules, a spokesman for Ms Reeves said: ‘Since becoming Chancellor Rachel Reeves has rented out her family home through a lettings agency.
‘She had not been made aware of the licensing requirement, but as soon as it was brought to her attention she took immediate action and has applied for the licence.
‘This was an inadvertent mistake and in the spirit of transparency she has made the Prime Minister, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards aware.’
On Wednesday night Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented on the ‘very serious revelations’, saying: ‘If the Chancellor, who has spent months floating punishing tax hikes on family homes, has at the same time seemingly been profiting from illegally renting out her house, that would make her position extremely tenuous.
‘The Prime Minister must launch a full investigation. He once said ‘lawmakers can’t be lawbreakers’.
‘If, as it appears, the Chancellor has broken the law, then he will have to show he has the backbone to act.’
It is understood Ms Reeves used an external lettings agency to rent out the house, and she did not receive any advice that a rental licence was required.
She took immediate action following the Daily Mail’s inquiries, and an application for the licence was submitted on Wednesday.
The Chancellor informed the Prime Minister in a letter and apologised to him. Keir Starmer said a further investigation is ‘not necessary’ after he consulted his independent ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.
‘I am satisfied that this matter can be drawn to a close following your apology,’ the PM added.
Southwark Council, like many other local authorities, requires that private landlords in certain areas obtain a ‘selective’ licence.
This has applied to most private residential properties rented to single families or unrelated tenants in the borough since November 2023.
There are few exemptions to requiring this type of licence – including if the property already has an HMO (house in multiple occupation) licence, is used as a holiday let or for religious purposes, or if the owner also resides in the property as their main home.
It is not thought that any of these apply to Ms Reeves.
Southwark Council said the licences were brought in to ‘improve safety, security and quality for people living in private rented homes’.
They cost £900 and landlords must submit documents proving their property is fit for purpose, including gas, electrical and fire safety certificates, floor plans and tenancy agreements.
Failing to obtain a licence when required is a criminal offence and can be punishable with an unlimited fine on prosecution, a fine of £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution, or the landlord could be ordered to pay back up to 12 months’ rent.
