Rachel Reeves: Rachel Reeves: After centuries of patriarchy, first female chancellor set to deliver Britain’s budget | World News

Rachel Reeves is set to make history this week as the first female Chancellor to deliver Britain’s Budget, placing her alongside political greats like Winston Churchill, William Gladstone, and Thomas Cromwell, who each held the nation’s finances in their hands.
Not long ago, the idea of a female Chancellor seemed unthinkable within Labour. Dennis Healey, a former Chancellor with a notorious disdain for the concept, once quipped in 1997: “Being Chancellor is not a woman’s job,” expressing his doubts in starkly outdated terms. Ironically, it was Healey who presided over one of Britain’s gravest economic embarrassments in 1976, when the country was forced to seek a bailout from the IMF.
Rachel, 45, grew up in Lewisham, South London, attending her local comprehensive school. A chess prodigy in her youth, she went on to study PPE at Oxford and later worked at the Bank of England. Initially seen as somewhat unexciting and famously dubbed “boring snoring” by Newsnight’s editor Ian Katz, she has since transformed her image, trading bodycon dresses for sharp suits, adopting a bob haircut, and dubbing herself the “Iron Chancellor” in homage to Margaret Thatcher.
In recent weeks, Rachel caused quite a stir in Westminster by dyeing her chestnut hair red, sparking speculation that she might be sending a political signal. However, friends close to her reveal it was simply an unintended shade, with Rachel reportedly less than thrilled by the result.
A huge fan of Beyoncé, Rachel has been preparing for her big moment by listening to music on early morning runs. Unlike some of her more colourful predecessors – from the ruthlessly driven Thomas Cromwell to the libertine Francis Dashwood, who was swiftly dismissed after raising cider taxes – Rachel is expected to keep her focus squarely on Britain’s economic stability.
Budget day itself has long been steeped in tradition, including one that allows the Chancellor a drink in the Commons while delivering the statement. Over the years, Chancellors have taken various approaches to this perk: Ken Clarke was the last to embrace it, sipping whisky, while Disraeli preferred brandy and water, Gladstone enjoyed sherry with a raw egg, and Geoffrey Howe opted for a gin and tonic. Rachel, however, has chosen to break with this custom and will stick to water for her address on Wednesday.
Despite her plain choice of drink, her Budget is expected to be far from ordinary. With bold moves anticipated, she may shift borrowing limits to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, delivering what could be a landmark Budget for the nation.