Rachel Reeves broke down and cried right there on the government front bench during Prime Minister's Questions. Markets went crazy when they saw the Chancellor weeping, sending the pound tumbling and pushing up borrowing costs. Keir Starmer rushed to save his finance chief's job after failing to promise she would stay. He told reporters later that Reeves would remain Chancellor for years ahead. The PM said her tears had nothing to do with politics or work stress.
Starmer blamed himself for a massive mess over disability benefit changes that nearly destroyed his government. More than 120 Labour MPs threatened to vote against their leader's welfare reforms. The Prime Minister had to make last-minute deals to stop a humiliating defeat in Parliament. He admitted he handled the situation badly and should have talked to his MPs earlier. The government ended up scrapping most of its planned benefit cuts.
Nobody knows exactly what made Reeves cry during the Commons session. Some MPs think Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was rude to her before the session started. Others believe personal problems at home caused her emotional breakdown. Conservative MPs sitting across from her said watching the Chancellor weep was awful. Her sister Ellie held her hand as they left the chamber together.
Starmer blamed himself for a massive mess over disability benefit changes that nearly destroyed his government. More than 120 Labour MPs threatened to vote against their leader's welfare reforms. The Prime Minister had to make last-minute deals to stop a humiliating defeat in Parliament. He admitted he handled the situation badly and should have talked to his MPs earlier. The government ended up scrapping most of its planned benefit cuts.
Nobody knows exactly what made Reeves cry during the Commons session. Some MPs think Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was rude to her before the session started. Others believe personal problems at home caused her emotional breakdown. Conservative MPs sitting across from her said watching the Chancellor weep was awful. Her sister Ellie held her hand as they left the chamber together.
