Britain's first female Chancellor has hit back at critics who "mansplain" how to do her job, days before unveiling a crucial Budget amid mounting economic pressure. Rachel Reeves told The Times Magazine she is "sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to me" as she faces higher-than-expected borrowing figures and growing scrutiny over anticipated tax rises.
The defiant stance comes as official data delivered a fresh blow to the Chancellor. The Office for National Statistics reported public sector borrowing of £17.4 billion last month – the third highest October figure since records began and £3 billion above what the Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast.
"I've seen off a lot of those boys before"
In her interview with The Times Magazine, Reeves acknowledged the government had "made a couple of unforced errors" but insisted it is "fighting to win." She directly addressed what she perceives as sexist criticism from "boys who now write newspaper columns."
"I recognise that I've got a target on me. You can see that in the media; they're going for me all the time. It's exhausting," she said. "But I'm not going to let them bring me down by undermining my character or my confidence. I've seen off a lot of those boys before and I'll continue to do so."
The Chancellor also opened up about a difficult moment earlier this year when cameras caught her crying during Prime Minister's Questions. "Most people have had a day at work when they go into the toilets and have a cry, or say to their boss, 'I'm just going home early,'" she told the magazine. "Unfortunately, my difficult moment was on live television."
Budget pressure mounts
Reeves faces a difficult balancing act when she presents her Budget on November 26. Borrowing for the first seven months of the financial year reached £116.8 billion – £9 billion higher than the same period last year and nearly £10 billion above official forecasts. Some economists estimate the shortfall in public finances could reach £50 billion.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said overnight the Budget would reflect "Labour values" and be "based on fairness," prioritising the NHS, cutting national debt and tackling the cost of living.
"We can't just muddle through"
In her interview with The Times Magazine, Reeves rejected the current economic trajectory. "We can't just carry on like this and muddle through. We have to make some decisions to get on a different path," she said.
She challenged those calling for tax cuts: "There are lots of people who say cut taxes and the economy will grow, but what spending would they cut?" The Chancellor added she was "not even sure any more what the popular path is" amid competing demands for wealth taxes from some politicians and heavy spending cuts from others.
"Borrowing is too high, but you can't cut it overnight. Public services are a mess, but we haven't got loads of money to throw at them and we have to use what we've got well," Reeves explained.
The Chancellor emphasized her humanity amid the political pressure: "I'm not a public personality. I'm not in showbusiness. I'm the chancellor. If you want people to enter politics, you have to remember they're human beings. I'm a mum with two kids. I'm a wife and a daughter. I wasn't born into this and I'm just trying to do my best."
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
