£3K Portrait of Reeves Sparks Outrage

0:00On April 21st, British taxpayers just footed a 3,000-pound bill for a portrait of Chancellor Rachel Rees gearing up for her first budget. The painting by artist Sally Ward now hangs in the parliamentary art collection after winning a competition from the Society of Women Artist's Last Month. It got the green light from a cross-party committee, marking a milestone since Rees became the first woman to lead the Treasury back in July 20. 24. Rees are ripping into the spend, calling it out of touch, while families tighten belts under her tax hikes. Groups like the taxpayers' alliance argue she should cut taxes instead of funding what looks like a personal keepsake. Rees has piled on 75 billion pounds in extra taxes yearly, the biggest jump in six decades, topping even Gordon Brown's record. That's pushing the overall tax burden toward a historic 38.5% of GDP by 2031. With welfare costs soaring and benefits rules eased, this portrait stares the pot on

1:01priorities as the public feels the squeeze heading into tougher. Times.