Rachel Reeves
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rachel Reeves
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rachel Reeves is a British Labour politician who became the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2024, following Labour's general election win. Born in 1979 in Lewisham, London, she studied PPE at Oxford and earned a master’s in economics from the LSE. Before entering politics, she worked as an economist at the Bank of England and HBOS. Reeves has been the MP for Leeds West (now Leeds West and Pudsey) since 2010, holding several key shadow cabinet roles before being appointed Shadow Chancellor in 2021. As Chancellor, she introduced major tax reforms, public sector pay increases, and a National Wealth Fund, while also making some controversial cuts. She is married with two children, and her sister, Ellie Reeves, is also a Labour MP. In 2023, she faced criticism over plagiarism in her book on women economists, with her publisher promising corrections.
Chancellor Pledges Bright Future for Scunthorpe Steelmaking After Government Intervention
- Thursday, 17 April 2025
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited Scunthorpe and predicted a "bright future" for steelmaking in the town after an emergency law took control of British Steel from its Chinese owners Jingye. The government had stepped in to keep the blast furnaces running by placing new orders for raw materials, and Reeves emphasized the importance of virgin steel being made in the UK for economic and national security reasons. She stated that despite poor management, the government is determined to ensure a secure future for Scunthorpe's steelmaking industry, with plans to move towards electric arc furnaces and secure the town's future for many decades.
