Labour’s Rachel Reeves has been named as the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer as Keir Starmer starts to form his new government this afternoon (5 July).
Reeves, who served as shadow chancellor when the Party were in opposition, described the appointment as “the honour of my life”.
She was re-elected to the newly-formed Leeds West and Pudsey seat after securing 18,976 votes.
She was first elected in 2010 and just five months later became shadow minister for work and pensions under former Labour leader Ed Milliband.
Reeves studied PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford University before going on to complete a masters in economics at the London School of Economics.
She then joined the Bank of England as an economist before her career in politics.
Following her appointment she posted on X (the site formerly known as Twitter): “It is the honour of my life to have been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“I know what responsibility it brings, and I am ready to deliver the change our economy needs to make working people in all parts of the country better off.
“It comes with a historic responsibility as the first woman to be appointed chancellor.
“To every young girl and woman reading this, let today show that there should be no limits on your ambitions.”
Liz Kendall has also been confirmed as the next work and pensions secretary.
Labour’s Rachel Reeves has been named as the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer as Keir Starmer starts to form his new government this afternoon (5 July).
Reeves, who served as shadow chancellor when the Party were in opposition, described the appointment as “the honour of my life”.
She was re-elected to the newly-formed Leeds West and Pudsey seat after securing 18,976 votes.
She was first elected in 2010 and just five months later became shadow minister for work and pensions under former Labour leader Ed Milliband.
Reeves studied PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford University before going on to complete a masters in economics at the London School of Economics.
She then joined the Bank of England as an economist before her career in politics.
Following her appointment she posted on X (the site formerly known as Twitter): “It is the honour of my life to have been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“I know what responsibility it brings, and I am ready to deliver the change our economy needs to make working people in all parts of the country better off.
“It comes with a historic responsibility as the first woman to be appointed chancellor.
“To every young girl and woman reading this, let today show that there should be no limits on your ambitions.”
Liz Kendall has also been confirmed as the next work and pensions secretary.
