‘If you want cartwheels, I’m not your person’: Rachel Reeves on charisma, U-turns and rescuing the economy

Rachel Reeves at the Salvation Army citadel in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

A member of Rachel Reeves’ team asks if I can meet the shadow chancellor in Kettering, Northamptonshire, because she wants to provide the Guardian with “original colour”. Lovely! What does the original colour consist of, I ask. “Well, Rachel’s grandparents worked for a shoe factory in Kettering. In fact, Rachel’s grandma’s health was damaged by working with the glue used in laces.” There is one caveat. “Unfortunately, the factory her grandparents worked at doesn’t do visits, but we can take you to a nearby factory.”

There is a second part to the original colour. “Rachel’s grandparents were Salvationists.” Blimey, that sounds exciting, I say – what are those? “They were in the Salvation Army. And, as you probably know, Salvationists are very principled, caring people.”