Labour’s Iron Lady? How ‘boring, snoring’ Rachel Reeves roared into contention

The politician once dismissed as reliably dull gave a barnstorming conference speech, writes Andrew Grice – and now Reeves looks not just like our first female chancellor, but a future leader

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves making her Labour conference speech (PA)

In a commanding speech which energised a rather flat Labour conference, Rachel Reeves tried to answer the $64,000 question: how could a Starmer government do anything given what she earlier admitted would be its “dire” economic inheritance?

The politician once dismissed as “boring, snoring” came to life with a barnstorming performance that immediately sent Labour tongues wagging that she looked not only like becoming Britain’s first female chancellor but also a future leader of the party.

“Leadership bid,” one wag quipped as they left a conference hall which had cheered Reeves to the rafters every time she punctuated her address by saying Labour is ready to serve, lead and rebuild Britain.