Labour Party leader Rachel Reeves made history on Friday when she was appointed as the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the UK’s new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. This appointment makes Reeves the first woman to hold this prestigious position in the UK.
Reeves, born on February 13, 1979, in southwest London, has an impressive background. She became Labour’s finance policy chief in 2021 and served as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer under Starmer when he was the Leader of the Opposition. Reeves is not only a former chess champion but also an ex-Bank of England economist, with experience working at the British embassy in Washington and Halifax/Bank of Scotland.
Having joined the Labour Party at the age of 16, Reeves became a Member of Parliament for Leeds West in 2010 and has retained her seat in subsequent elections. In the recent general election on July 4, she became the first MP for the newly created Leeds West and Pudsey constituency. Reeves, who studied at New College, Oxford, and the London School of Economics, succeeds Jeremy Hunt of the Conservatives as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
In a statement posted on social media, Reeves expressed her gratitude for the appointment, calling it the “honour of my life.” She emphasized that economic growth is not just the Labour Party’s mission but a national mission, and she is ready to get to work.
Reeves’ appointment as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer marks a significant milestone in UK politics, and her background and experience make her a strong candidate for the role. The nation will be watching closely as she takes on this crucial position in the government.