Rachel Reeves, speaking at a reception for female business leaders, announced her plans to replace every painting in the lavish state room at No 11 Downing Street with artworks created by or featuring women. She aims to honor the lives of significant women from history with this initiative, highlighting the importance of female representation in spaces of power. Additionally, a statue of Millicent Fawcett, a key figure in women's rights, will be installed to symbolize the ongoing fight for gender equality.
Emphasizing the continued existence of a gender pay gap even decades after the introduction of equal pay legislation, Reeves stated, 'It's 54 years now since Barbara Castle introduced that legislation on equal pay, and yet there is still a 14% gap between what men and women are paid.' This statement underscores her commitment to tackling economic inequality and her desire to be the chancellor who effectively addresses and closes this gap.
Further, Reeves expressed her commitment to affordable and flexible childcare, asserting that addressing this issue is critical to achieving economic equality for women. She acknowledged that while progress has been made, challenges persist. Her focus on childcare reflects a broader understanding of the barriers women face in the workforce, highlighting that financial opportunities must be accessible to women to create true equality.
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