Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to be crying in the Commons as Keir Starmer refused to say she would still hold the post by the next election during a tense PMQs
Rachel Reeves appeared to be in tears in the Commons as she sat next to Keir Starmer during a tense Prime Minister’s Questions.
It came as the PM swerved a question over whether Ms Reeves would still be Chancellor at the next election following a bruising day for the government on Tuesday evening where Mr Starmer suffered the biggest revolt of his premiership so far over his welfare plans.
Mr Starmer faced Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after being forced to scrap key planks of his welfare reforms, leaving an almost £5 billion black hole in Ms Reeves’ spending plans and fuelling speculation she could be forced to hike taxes.
A fiery Ms Badenoch said Ms Reeves looked “absolutely miserable”, with the Chancellor seen wiping tears from her face during the debate. Labour minister Ellie Reeves appeared to be holding her sister’s hand as she left the chamber.
READ MORE: All the concessions made to Keir Starmer’s welfare bill and what happens next
When asked if she would stay in position, Mr Starmer dodged the question, instead saying Ms Badenoch “certainly won’t”.
It came as the Conservative leader said the “welfare bill was created to plug a black hole created by the Chancellor. Instead, they’re creating new ones”. Ms Reeves reacted from the government front benches, to which Ms Badenoch hit back: “She’s pointing at me, she looks absolutely miserable. They can point as much as they like but the fact is Labour MPs are going on the record saying the Chancellor is ‘toast’ and the reality is he is a human shield for his incompetence”
She added: “In January, he said she will be in post until the next election, Will she really?”
The PM tried to make a joke saying Ms Badenoch “certainly won’t”, adding: “I’m always cheered up when he asks me questions or responds to a statement because she always makes a complete mess of it and shows just how unserious and irrelevant they are.”
Mr Starmer listed progressive policies the Labour government was implementing, including an expansion of free school meals , breakfast clubs, £15billion invested in transport in the north and midlands, building 1.5 million homes,. investing in affordable housing, and the three trade deals, including with the US and India.
Ms Badenoch hit back: “How awful for the Chancellor that he couldn’t confirm that she will stay in place. ” She goes on to attack Labour’s first year in power and says it has simply been “a series of humiliating U-turns”.
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