Is Sir Keir In The Last Chance Saloon?

Darren Jones would be a better choice.

Leave of absence unless for a bereavement would only make the situation worse.
The markets need confidence.
She has to come back strongly now or resign.

Jane43 today @09.43

I had to look up BJ being given that title though I remember U-turns by him and Liz Truss as well.

Their u-turns were given by the opposition and the media as a reason why they weren’t good as a PM . . .

The media always focus on the negatives, whoever is in power. If what you posit is true, then there’s always a BBC commentator who seems to derive pleasure from delivering that news.

It used to be Laura Keunssberg during the Tory Government. Now it’s Chris Mason.

I hope Rachel Reeves, whatever the issue, is given leave of absence. This woman needs support. To be seen crying like this worldwide is not a good look. I can’t think of it ever happening anywhere else, televised for the world to see. Reactions have been universal. She needs time out of the spotlight. If she needs replacing then so be it. All these economic plans she hasn’t come up with by herself. They are the work of policy makers, civil servants. People need to remember she is just the front woman. Time for her to take a leave of absence and replaced by somebody more robust. Angela Rayner? She seems tough.

It’s being explained away as a ‘personal matter’ hmmmm.
If that had been the case then Starmer and Rayner would have given the odd whispered word of encouragement to RR or smile.They didn’t.Why? I think they had no inkling that she would be shedding tears.
All it needed was for Starmer to say robustly in answer to Badenoch ‘ I have every confidence in my Chancellor and she will be here at the next election and the one after!’ If he had done, it could well have been all she needed.
The markets reacted badly afterwards, tho have come up now I hear not because RR was tearful but that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had.
The whole welfare bill was a debacle of Starmer and Reeves own making.

My hope for the labour government was slightly higher than 'the same as Johnson'.

Just for the record: Boris Johnson was known as ‘Mr U Turn’ - more than 50 when he was PM, two in two hours on the subject of conversion therapy and many during Coronavirus. Liz Truss made three U turns in three months and I’m sure there are many other examples in political history. For some reason the media are focusing on the negatives rather than the positives where Starmer is concerned, especially Chris Mason who literally rubs his hands with glee when he has anything negative about this government to report. Starmer will continue as PM until the next election and probably afterwards

Hear, hear Jane43 👏👏👏

rosie1959

Labour certainly seem to be getting in a bit of a muddle. Making decisions far too quickly without really thinking them through then having to reverse them. Does Rachel Reeves really know what she is doing as she promised in November no more borrowing and no more tax increases will she stick with this?
Starmer has to up his game

Just for the record: Boris Johnson was known as ‘Mr U Turn’ - more than 50 when he was PM, two in two hours on the subject of conversion therapy and many during Coronavirus. Liz Truss made three U turns in three months and I’m sure there are many other examples in political history. For some reason the media are focusing on the negatives rather than the positives where Starmer is concerned, especially Chris Mason who literally rubs his hands with glee when he has anything negative about this government to report. Starmer will continue as PM until the next election and probably afterwards.

Don’t think Margaret Thatcher ever cried at the dispatch box Anniebach so yes, to me she came across as strong and resilient when doing her job.

I remember both Gordon Brown and David Cameron looking upset, very understandable, when they both lost children, but that was in a totally different context.

David49

love0c

Reeves has caused absolute devastation! She has not and does not care at all about people! That is a bully to me!

Starmer has made it clear that it was THEIR plan, not Reeves personal crusade and admitted they did not present it well enough.

He made a pigs ear of the whole thing.

love0c

Reeves has caused absolute devastation! She has not and does not care at all about people! That is a bully to me!

Markets went down by 4% afterwards.
Not sure if they have rallied back up now.

love0c

Reeves has caused absolute devastation! She has not and does not care at all about people! That is a bully to me!

Starmer has made it clear that it was THEIR plan, not Reeves personal crusade and admitted they did not present it well enough.

I have an inkling that for RR it would have been best for her to give PMQ’s a miss, but she put party over her personal anguish

I agree GG.

Perhaps she thought she could manage the 30 mins of PMQs, despite some personal distress, because she wouldn’t be expecting a parliamentary colleague to capitalise on it.

Or if we had shown emotion, then I'd expect a colleague come to the rescue.

I have an inkling that for RR it would have been best for her to give PMQ’s a miss, but she put party over her personal anguish.
Just wondering here, haven't we all done similar and "performed" in public as best we could without showing any emotion at that moment?

LizzieDrip

I don’t recall Rachel Reeves cruelly goading an obviously distressed parliamentary colleague in public.

Perhaps you do love0🤔

Badenoch has form. Do you remember her goading Angela Rayner?

Wouldn’t it be normal to apply for leave of absence in these circumstances? If Rachel Reeves is unable to perform in her role, which is thought to be essential to government, wouldn’t it be prudent to take sick leave?

love0c

Reeves has caused absolute devastation! She has not and does not care at all about people! That is a bully to me!

How has she caused devastation? I really don't see that.

Galaxy

Indeed I don't think I actually care if a politician cries, male or female, but I do care about the lack of strategy/vision on this issue.

Exactly Galaxy.

Her sister Ellie Reeves Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, went to RR after PMQ’s held her hand and led her out of the Chamber

This is also being widely reported on news channels.

I am not sure which would have been more detrimental to the Labour Party, having RR not show up or seeing her in tears on the Front Bench.

I have an inkling that for RR it would have been best for her to give PMQ’s a miss, but she put party over her personal anguish.

Reeves has caused absolute devastation! She has not and does not care at all about people! That is a bully to me!

escaped

I'm not up to speed with RR's crying episode, but just to say, news abroad isn't exactly dwelling on it. (The same was true here for Macron's slap from his wife). I dislike the way our country publically dissects politicians' every move and bits of body language. I hope RR is OK.
Why didn't Starmer just say tell Badenoch at the time that RR's miserable face WAS due to a personal matter, so back off?
The Martin Lewis quote was spot on.

If it was a personal matter whatever it was it needs explaining, maybe Reeves had a bereavement, a personal health scare, or family event. That is entirely different and understandable but does need explaining, any kind of weakness shown will be leapt on by the opposition, as we saw with Badenough going straight for the throat.

The U turns on benefits destroys Starmers whole economic plan, its back to square one, from now on he’s going to be judged very harshly by international markets. But that’s the least of his problems, controlling his extremists now they have become emboldened is going to be difficult.

I don’t recall Rachel Reeves cruelly goading an obviously distressed parliamentary colleague in public.

Perhaps you do love0🤔

LizzieDrip Like Reeves then!

Badenough has shown herself for what she really is … a nasty bully.