General election  

Rachel Reeves becomes first female chancellor

Rachel Reeves becomes first female chancellor
Rachel Reeves is Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska)

Rachel Reeves has been named as the UK's first female chancellor of the exchequer as Labour leader Keir Starmer announces his cabinet.

Reeves was given the shadow chancellor role when Starmer was appointed leader of the Labour Party in 2020.

The MP was first elected to represent Leeds West in May 2010. 

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She worked for the Bank of England between 2000 and 2006. 

Following the Conservative party's loss, Reeves takes on the job from Jeremy Hunt, who has held the job since 2022. 

He narrowly kept hold of his Surrey seat and was seen leaving 11 Downing Street, flanked by his family this morning (July 5).

Since 1997 the chancellor of the exchequer has been: 

  • Kwasi Kwarteng (Con), 2022
  • Nadhim Zahawi (Con), 2022
  • Rishi Sunak (Con), 2020-2022
  • Sajid Javid (Con) 2019-2020
  • Philip Hammond (Con) 2016-2019
  • George Osborne (Con) 2010-2016
  • Alistair Darling (Lab) 2007-2010
  • Gordon Brown (Lab) 1997-2007

tara.o'connor@ft.com

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