Ellie Reeves, the younger sister of UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was ever the supportive sibling as they stepped out of an emotional PMQs session that they both attended on Wednesday.
Speculation swirled in regard to Rachel’s future within the Labour party after the Chancellor was pictured crying on the front benches as Sir Keir Starmer spoke during PMQs this week.
Ellie, who is also a Labour minister, reportedly held her sister’s hand as they left the session.
A spokesperson for Reeves later confirmed that the Chancellor was emotional due to a ‘personal matter’ and that her fate in the party ranks wasn’t in question.
"It's a personal matter, which, as you would expect, we are not going to get into,” the representative said. They also added: “The Chancellor is going nowhere. She has the Prime Minister's full backing.”
Starmer later said that he didn’t realise that Rachel had been crying, saying at an NHS event: “I was probably the last to appreciate anything going on in the chamber."
So, who is Rachel Reeves' sister? Here’s everything you need to know about the Labour MP.
Who is Ellie Reeves?
Ellie Reeves, 44, is the MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich, an area of London which she has represented since she was elected as MP of Lewisham West & Penge in 2017. She is also the younger sister of Rachel Reeves, who is two years her senior.
Born and raised in the southeast London area of Sydenham, she explains in her bio that her family had long ties to the region and that her great-granddad worked at the swimming baths in East Dulwich.
Growing up, it seems that both Ellie and Rachel have been supportive of each others professional dreams.
Speaking to The Independent, Ellie explained that it was back in the 90s that she practiced a mock election with Rachel, where she pretended to be her campaign manager.
“I can remember the 1992 general election, and we were at school, and they had a mock election,” Ellie told the outlet. “Rachel put herself forward for this mock election, and I was her campaign manager... She put me in charge of the leaflets, stickers and things like that to give out.”
Much like her older sister, Ellie joined the Labour Party as a teenager and went on to study at Oxford University, where she read law. She then spent the next decade working as an employment rights lawyer before venturing into politics.
Unlike Rachel, who was seemingly set on a life in politics, Ellie reportedly ‘agonised’ over the decision before taking the leap.
Ellie has held several prominent positions within the Labour Party during her tenure, including Shadow Solicitor General and Chair of the Labour Party.
Reflecting on her work as an MP, Ellie also said that it “means so much to me and my family” to represent an area that she associates with her upbringing and family. She added: “It is a privilege and honour to now be able to represent this area in parliament.”
What have the Reeves sisters said about each other?
Rachel and Ellie Reeves sat down for a joint interview back in 2023, when they spoke to The New Statesman about their lives and politics.
In it, Ellie joked that her older sister was “more like a pushy parent” who encouraged her to do her homework on time. Despite some classic sibling teasing, the sisters also seemed to share a great deal of admiration for each other.
Ellie told The New Statesman that she actually idolises her sister’s work ethic, as well as her ability to balance her commitments with making time for her family.
“Rachel’s work ethic is something that I hugely admire, and her loyalty,” Ellie said. “Her schedule is really demanding but she still makes time for her friends and family. She has always pushed me and supported me in whatever I have wanted to do.”
