The Newshound

Rachel Reeves is ranked 'worst chancellor' in recent history, beaten even by Kwasi Kwarteng in new poll

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026.

Rachel Reeves delivering a speech. A new AJ Bell poll has ranked her the worst chancellor of the last five, with 51% of Reform voters naming her least successful — below even Kwasi Kwarteng.
Rachel Reeves delivering a speech. A new AJ Bell poll has ranked her the worst chancellor of the last five, with 51% of Reform voters naming her least successful — below even Kwasi Kwarteng.

Rachel Reeves has been voted the worst of the last five chancellors in an AJ Bell survey, finishing below even Kwasi Kwarteng — whose disastrous 2022 mini-budget crashed the pound and ended Liz Truss's government after 45 days. A full 51% of Reform voters named Reeves the least successful, alongside 40% of Conservatives and 43% of over-65s. Rishi Sunak topped the poll as the most successful chancellor of the five.

Kwarteng's mini-budget tanked the bond market and reversed almost all its own measures — yet Reeves still ranked BELOW him.

AJ Bell's Sarah Coles blamed Treasury 'briefing culture' and 'unnecessary complication' for dragging Reeves down in public esteem.

Incoming chancellor John Healey is warned to pursue clarity and rule out tax changes already shelved — ahead of his first Budget this month.

MoreThe TimesRachel Reeves named worst chancellor in recent historyCity A.M.Reeves beats Kwarteng to ‘worst chancellor’ in new rankingMortgage SoupReeves ranked least successful of five recent chancellors in poll - Mortgage Soup
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