UK
FEMINIST ECONOMICS
Rachel Reeves commits to improving women’s lives by closing gender pay gap
Rhiannon James, PA Political Staff
Wed 18 September 2024
Rachel Reeves has said she intends to use her position as the first female Chancellor to “improve life for women”, as she set out plans to support women in business.
Ms Reeves said it is a “huge responsibility” to head the Treasury and she is aiming to close the gender pay gap, strengthen rights at work and invest in childcare.
Announcing the Government’s support for the Invest in Women Taskforce, which aims to increase investment funding pools for female founders, the Chancellor vowed to improve the economic opportunities available to women.
The taskforce is aiming to create a funding pool of more than £250 million for female-founded businesses through private capital, making it one of the world’s largest investment funding pools aimed solely at female founders.
The Rose Review, an independent review of female entrepreneurship led by Dame Alison Rose, found that if the UK were to have the same share of female entrepreneurs as similar countries, £200 billion of value would be added to the economy.
Ms Reeves is expected to take an active role in steering the taskforce’s priorities and objectives.
She said: “It is a huge responsibility to sit in the Treasury as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer and be able to use my position to improve life for women across the UK – one that I don’t take lightly.
“That includes ending the gender pay gap, strengthening rights at work and investing in childcare.
“And by backing the Invest in Women Taskforce we can establish one of the world’s largest dedicated investment funding pools for female-powered businesses, helping grow our economy.
“This event gathers together some very powerful women, but the truth is everyone can do something for women’s equality – whether that’s supporting the women and girls in their lives with their ambitions or making their workplace a fairer playing field.”
On Wednesday, which is International Equal Pay Day, the Chancellor is hosting a reception in Number 11 Downing Street for female business leaders from various sectors, such as financial services, technology and the creative industry.
Heather Stewart
Wed 18 September 2024
THE GUARDIAN
Rachel Reeves in her office at No 11 Downing Street, London.Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Rachel Reeves has announced plans to replace every painting in the lavish state room at No 11 Downing Street with artworks of or by women.
Speaking at a reception for female business leaders on Wednesday evening, the chancellor said she wanted to mark the lives of the “amazing women who have gone before us”.
Addressing the all-female gathering, she said: “This is King James behind me, but next week the artwork in this room is going to change.
“Every picture in this room is either going to be of a woman or by a woman – and we’re also going to have a statue in this room of Millicent Fawcett, who did so much for the rights of women.”
King James II, who is posing in a suit of armour, with a lustrous head of shoulder-length hair, is likely to be relegated to a storage room. Most other paintings around the large room currently feature men.
The chancellor is planning to take the same approach to choosing artworks to hang in her study, downstairs in No 11.
Reeves received a warm cheer when she underlined her delight at “smashing the glass ceiling” to become the first female chancellor, and reiterated her commitment to closing the gender pay gap.
“It’s 54 years now since Barbara Castle introduced that legislation on equal pay and yet there is still a 14% gap between what men and women are paid,” she said. “I want to be the chancellor who closes that gap once and for all.”
She mentioned affordable and flexible childcare as one aspect of that challenge.
Taking a break from preparations for next month’s crunch budget, Reeves has discussed her plans for a feminist rehang with the curator of the government art collection. Ministers can choose which works from the extensive collection to put on display.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, has removed a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, one of his Conservative predecessors, since he moved in to Downing Street.
The grand state room at No 11, with its red silk wallpaper, has large windows overlooking the Downing Street garden, and is used for formal receptions and entertaining guests.
Reeves faces a series of tough tax and spending decisions in the coming weeks that will set the direction for the government. Her announcement that the winter fuel allowance would be scrapped for the vast majority of pensioners attracted widespread concern including within her own party, underlying the trade-offs that lie ahead.
Rachel Reeves in her office at No 11 Downing Street, London.Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Rachel Reeves has announced plans to replace every painting in the lavish state room at No 11 Downing Street with artworks of or by women.
Speaking at a reception for female business leaders on Wednesday evening, the chancellor said she wanted to mark the lives of the “amazing women who have gone before us”.
Addressing the all-female gathering, she said: “This is King James behind me, but next week the artwork in this room is going to change.
“Every picture in this room is either going to be of a woman or by a woman – and we’re also going to have a statue in this room of Millicent Fawcett, who did so much for the rights of women.”
King James II, who is posing in a suit of armour, with a lustrous head of shoulder-length hair, is likely to be relegated to a storage room. Most other paintings around the large room currently feature men.
The chancellor is planning to take the same approach to choosing artworks to hang in her study, downstairs in No 11.
Reeves received a warm cheer when she underlined her delight at “smashing the glass ceiling” to become the first female chancellor, and reiterated her commitment to closing the gender pay gap.
“It’s 54 years now since Barbara Castle introduced that legislation on equal pay and yet there is still a 14% gap between what men and women are paid,” she said. “I want to be the chancellor who closes that gap once and for all.”
She mentioned affordable and flexible childcare as one aspect of that challenge.
Taking a break from preparations for next month’s crunch budget, Reeves has discussed her plans for a feminist rehang with the curator of the government art collection. Ministers can choose which works from the extensive collection to put on display.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, has removed a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, one of his Conservative predecessors, since he moved in to Downing Street.
The grand state room at No 11, with its red silk wallpaper, has large windows overlooking the Downing Street garden, and is used for formal receptions and entertaining guests.
Reeves faces a series of tough tax and spending decisions in the coming weeks that will set the direction for the government. Her announcement that the winter fuel allowance would be scrapped for the vast majority of pensioners attracted widespread concern including within her own party, underlying the trade-offs that lie ahead.
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