Rachel Reeves

Overview

Earmarked as a ‘rising star’ in the Labour Party upon her election to Westminster in 2010, Rachel Reeves is the MP for Leeds West. She was reelected in 2019 with a majority of 10,584.

Reeves was appointed Shadow Chancellor by Sir Keir Starmer in May 2021. She had previously served in the Starmer’s shadow Cabinet as shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 2020 and 2021.

Under Ed Miliband, Reeves had previously held a variety of shadow Cabinet roles, but she was shut out under Corbyn’s leadership. Reeves was a frequent Corbyn critic.

Rachel Reeves: One of three Labour MPs demanding red line on freedom of movement

Shadow Chancellor

Rachel Reeves MP is the current Shadow Chancellor, having been appointed to the role in May 2021 by Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer.

Reeves replaced Anneliese Dodds, who held the position during the first twelve months of Keir Starmer’s leadership. Reeves is the second ever woman Shadow Chancellor. Dodds was the first.

Should Labour form the next government, Reeves would become the first woman to hold the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In the the last 50 years, only 4 Shadow Chancellors (Denis Healey, Geoffrey Howe, Gordon Brown, and George Osborne) out a total of the 18 people to hold the role (excluding ex Chancellors immediately after an election), have actually gone onto work in Number 11 Downing Street.

Political Career

Reeves was first elected to Parliament for the constituency of Leeds West in 2010. Following her election, she supported Ed Miliband for the Labour leadership. Reeves was appointed to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, and as Shadow Pensions Minister in October 2010.

Reeves then served in Ed Miliband’s shadow Cabinet as shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2011-2013) and as shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2013-2015). Two high-profile appointments for an MP is her first term.

As shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Reeves announced that Labour would be ‘tougher’ than the Conservatives in reducing the benefits bill. This caused – and still causes – much controversy.

On the right of the Labour Party, Reeves was neither offered nor sought a place in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow Cabinet. She supported Owen Smith in his 2016 challenge to Corbyn.

Reeves was Chair of the Commons Business Select Committee between 2017 and 2020.

Following the 2019 General Election, Reeves returned to the Labour front bench in 2020 as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, before being promoted to Shadow Chancellor in 2021.

Before politics

Before her 2010 election, Rachel Reeves spent her professional career as an economist working for the Bank of England, the British Embassy in Washington and at Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Reeves holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from New College, Oxford.

Personal life

Rachel Reeves is married to Nicholas Joicey, and the couple have two children.

Mr Joicey is well placed to provide support to his wife in her new role, having himself once been a speech writer for Gordon Brown, during his time as the actual Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Born in 1979, Rachel Reeve’s sister is Ellie Reeves, the current Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge in London.