Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves was born in Lewisham and studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford followed by a master’s in Economics at the London School of Economics. After graduating, she worked at the Bank of England and at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. Reeves first stood for the Labour Party in the 2005 general election, contesting Bromley and Chislehurst, but was unsuccessful. She contested the seat again at the following year’s by-election and came fourth. She then moved to Leeds to work for Halifax. In 2010, she successfully contested Leeds West, holding the seat for the party. In her maiden speech she outlined her intention to support Leeds’ “proud economic heritage”, envisioning a future “based on high skills, new technologies and new industries.” She joined the business, innovation and skills committee shortly after entering Parliament, before being appointed shadow work and pensions minister a few months later. In 2011, Reeves was promoted to the position of shadow chief secretary to the Treasury followed by shadow work and pensions secretary in 2013. Reeves left the shadow cabinet when Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader. From 2015-2017, she sat on the Treasury Committee. Reeves became the chair of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee in 2017 and was also a member of the liaison and the national security and strategy committees until November 2019. In April 2020, she was appointed shadow minister for the cabinet office and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. Reeves is the sister of fellow Labour MP, Ellie Reeves.