Taxpayers have funded a £3,000 oil painting of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which has been branded a 'vanity project' by campaigners.
The Parliamentary Art Collection used public funds to purchase the portrait, which depicts the Chancellor sitting inside her 11 Downing Street study, advising on her financial plans for the nation.
Created by artist Sally Ward, the piece was unveiled last month at a competition organised by the Society of Women Artists.
Celebration of historic achievement
The painting serves as a celebration of Ms Reeves' achievements as the first woman to hold the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
However, the cost being fronted by taxpayers has been slammed by the TaxPayers' Alliance, calling it a 'vanity project'.
William Yarwood, the organisation's campaigns director, said: 'Taxpayers will be framing this as a total lack of self-awareness from the chancellor.'
'While Reeves tells households to tighten their belts and hike taxes even further, she seems perfectly happy for the public to pick up the tab for her own vanity projects.'
'Instead of commissioning oil paintings, the chancellor should be focusing on lowering Britain's crushing tax burden.'
Reeves defends portrait
Speaking at the unveiling, Ms Reeves said: 'When I stood at the despatch box to deliver the first Budget by a female Chancellor, I was acutely aware of the generations of women who had fought to make that moment possible.'
'I am deeply honoured that Sally Ward's portrait will join the Parliamentary Art Collection as a permanent record of that history.'
'I hope this portrait serves as a reminder to every young woman and girl across the country that there should be no ceiling on their ambition.'
Public reaction
The purchase has sparked debate on social media, with some defending the portrait as a historic piece and others criticising the use of public funds during a cost-of-living crisis.
The TaxPayers' Alliance has called for greater transparency in how public money is spent on art.
