Chancellor's Chess Credentials Under Fire
Chancellor Rachel Reeves finds herself in a political stalemate after facing accusations that she misrepresented her past as a junior chess champion. The row erupted after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched a pointed attack during Prime Minister's Questions, alleging a pattern of misinformation from the Labour minister.
"We now know the black hole was fake, the chancellor's book was fake, her CV was fake - even her chess claims are made up," declared Ms Badenoch on Wednesday 3 December 2025. She added that the chancellor "doesn't belong in the Treasury; she belongs in la-la land."
The Specifics of the Dispute
The controversy centres on a claim Ms Reeves has made repeatedly in interviews, including to The Guardian in 2023, where she stated: "I am - I was - a geek. I played chess. I was the British girls' under-14 champion." She has reinforced this image, posting videos of herself playing chess in Parliament and posing with a chessboard ahead of the recent budget.
However, this assertion has been directly challenged by Alex Edmans, a former junior champion who now serves as a professor of finance at the London Business School. Speaking to Sky News' Ali Fortescue, Edmans clarified the record. He confirmed that in 1993, the year in question, the prestigious British Championship title for girls under-14 was won by Emily Howard, not Rachel Reeves.
Edmans explained that Ms Reeves did win a different, less prominent title from the British Women's Chess Association. He drew a clear distinction: "Just like running a marathon in London is not the same as the London Marathon, there was one event which is very prestigious, which is the British Championship." He stressed the issue is not her skill, but the accuracy of the claim, stating: "if you weren't the British champion, you shouldn't make that statement."
Political Fallout and Stalemate
The chess allegation adds to a list of criticisms levelled at the chancellor, including claims of plagiarism and disputes over the state of the nation's finances. Her opponents have been quick to capitalise, suggesting the "Treasury queen has now become a pawn."
Yet, the situation is not clear-cut. A Treasury source dismissed the story as "absolute nonsense," while supporters argue that because Ms Reeves did legitimately win a chess title, she can justifiably call herself a champion. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Downing Street team have so far remained silent on the matter.
For now, the political attack has not resulted in checkmate. With credible arguments on both sides—a title was won, but not the specific one cited—the dispute appears to be at a stalemate. The episode underscores how past claims can become potent ammunition in Westminster's relentless political game.
