Anyone need advice on hiking taxes? Rachel Reeves signs up with agencies to join corporate speaking circuit

Published: 09:51 EDT, 30 October 2026 | Updated: 10:19 EDT, 30 October 2026 Rachel Reeves looks to be embarking on a new career after signing with corporate speaking agencies.The former Chancellor has sought approval to go on the books of the Washington Speakers Bureau and Chartwell Speakers Bureau.Letters exchanged with the PM's independent adviser on standards, Laurie Magnus, and released yesterday disclosed that Ms Reeves will available 'for clients to hire'.Her profile on the Chartwell Speakers website describes her as 'one of the UK's most prominent economic and political figures'.It points out she was the first female Chancellor until being ousted by Andy Burnham in July alongside Keir Starmer. The profile says she can offer clients insights into her 'Securonomics' approach, with a 'distinctive understanding of how economic policy translates into real-world outcomes for businesses, governments and society'. Rachel Reeves looks to be embarking on a new career after signing with corporate speaking agenciesIt is not clear what kind of fees Ms Reeves will command, but other ex-Chancellors such as Jeremy Hunt have received around £30,000 for speaking engagements.The Leeds MP entered No11 after Labour won the election by a landslide in July 2024. But her tenure was marked by huge tax hikes, while businesses complained of more costs and red tape. The Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) historical database shows Ms Reeves imposed an astonishing £75billion a year of extra tax on Britons.The staggering tally made her the biggest tax-raising Chancellor in the last six decades, far ahead of her nearest competitor for the dubious distinction - Gordon Brown.The Chartwell profile said Ms Reeves 'delivered stability in the public finances through fiscal consolidation and reducing interest rates, with UK borrowing meaningfully reduced for the first time since the covid pandemic'. She was also credited with 'deregulation' and trade agreements, including 'paving the way for a deal with Britain’s biggest trading partners in the EU'. Senior politicians often take on speaking work after leaving office, with some using the income to fund charitable enterprises. In the letters released yesterday, Sir Laurie said the Leeds MP should wait for a minimum of three months after leaving office to take on the work.Other conditions include not disclosing privileged information, not lobbying the UK Government for two years, and not advising on contracts with Britain authorities.Sir Laurie stressed his recommendations did not amount to approval, but paid speaking engagements could 'generally be managed effectively by applying a set of standard conditions'. The letters are only published after the appointment is confirmed. Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien told the Daily Mail: 'Now we know that there was actually one person in Britain who benefited from Rachel Reeves' time at the Treasury.'