New portrait of Rachel Reeves to hang permanently in parliament [Picture]

A new portrait of Rachel Reeves has been unveiled by the parliamentary authorities.

It shows her preparing to deliver her first budget in October 2024 as the first female chancellor of the exchequer in the over 900 years the role has existed.

It is an oil painting by artist Sally Ward, and parliament says she approached it as “both a portrait and a history painting, showing an important moment in British political and parliamentary history”.

Reeves says she is “deeply honoured” that it will be acquired by the Parliamentary Art Collection, and that she hopes it “serves as a reminder to every young woman and girl across the country that there should be no ceiling on their ambition”.

Ward said it is an “enormous honour” that her work has been acquired to be hung in parliament, saying it is “intended to be a contemporary history painting as much as a portrait, capturing a defining moment for women’s equality in British political history”.

It will be displayed in the Society of Women Artist’s summer exhibition in June, before its permanent hang in parliament’s Portcullis House.