Rachel reeves

She should have quietly left the house …and composed herself! Not professional to sit and weep!

GrannyGravy13

Iam64

I understand some of what you say grannygravy but, from clips I’ve seen, Starmer and others were all facing the opposition for obvious reasons. Even had Starmer realised the level of distress what was he to do that didn’t make it worse by drawing more attention and disrupting pmq’s. Awful situation for Reeves , she was over whelmed and if she’d left the bench no doubt would have been criticised

The MP behind her noticed, he put his hand on her shoulder.

Are you honestly saying that you wouldn’t realise the person sitting next to you literally shoulder to shoulder was distressed and openly crying?

I know I would.

I would not have wanted to embarrass her by drawing attention to her distress. Do you really think that would have helped her? She was obviously not herself, but watching PMQs you could see that she recovered her composure to some extent during the session.

Sitting behind yes, sitting next to when PM on PMQ no, engrossed in what is being said and what will be said surely

Iam64

I understand some of what you say grannygravy but, from clips I’ve seen, Starmer and others were all facing the opposition for obvious reasons. Even had Starmer realised the level of distress what was he to do that didn’t make it worse by drawing more attention and disrupting pmq’s. Awful situation for Reeves , she was over whelmed and if she’d left the bench no doubt would have been criticised

The MP behind her noticed, he put his hand on her shoulder.

Are you honestly saying that you wouldn’t realise the person sitting next to you literally shoulder to shoulder was distressed and openly crying?

I know I would.

I understand some of what you say grannygravy but, from clips I’ve seen, Starmer and others were all facing the opposition for obvious reasons. Even had Starmer realised the level of distress what was he to do that didn’t make it worse by drawing more attention and disrupting pmq’s. Awful situation for Reeves , she was over whelmed and if she’d left the bench no doubt would have been criticised

GrannyGravy13

growstuff I would expect some form of acknowledgement from my peers either side of I was obviously upset and openly crying.

The PM and his deputy didn’t notice sorry I do not buy that explanation.

If that explanation is true, it says a lot about KS and AR, and none of it good.

growstuff I would expect some form of acknowledgement from my peers either side of I was obviously upset and openly crying.

The PM and his deputy didn’t notice sorry I do not buy that explanation.

I don’t usually comment on the Politics posts - I would probably be banned! But the reaction from some GN’s to Rachel Reeves’ tears the other day are absolutely appalling. What happened to kindness, empathy and indeed sisterhood? Badenoch’s behaviour was also dreadful. Reeves obviously felt she had to be there that day - it’s her job. Whatever the problem was (and we don’t need to know) she was overwhelmed.

GrannyGravy13

Iam64

if she wants to be a politician, behave like one
Who do you suggest as Reeves role model inAbat? Kemi Badenoch perhaps, or Boris Johnson, or Corbyn/Abbott?

making an exhibition of herself. Empathy in short supply

To be totally accurate and fair, empathy was not in abundance on the front bench either side of RR, neither Angela Rayner or the PM noticed her distress and tears.

How can you sit next to someone in such close proximity crying and not notice?

I certainly couldn’t…

I wouldn't expect empathy, but I wouldn't expect total nastiness either.

Seem to remember Theresa May looking very tearful when she called that election and nearly lost. I think, as women, no matter how in control of our emotions we think we are our hormones are lurking around ready to emerge when we don’t want them to.

Iam64

*if she wants to be a politician, behave like one *
Who do you suggest as Reeves role model inAbat? Kemi Badenoch perhaps, or Boris Johnson, or Corbyn/Abbott?

making an exhibition of herself. Empathy in short supply

To be totally accurate and fair, empathy was not in abundance on the front bench either side of RR, neither Angela Rayner or the PM noticed her distress and tears.

How can you sit next to someone in such close proximity crying and not notice?

I certainly couldn’t…

Absolutely agree, & the Internet comments on some threads are absolutely vitriolic..seems like everyone's forgotten how to "be kind .

if she wants to be a politician, behave like one
Who do you suggest as Reeves role model inAbat? Kemi Badenoch perhaps, or Boris Johnson, or Corbyn/Abbott?

making an exhibition of herself. Empathy in short supply

If it was personal she should have not been there. If it was Starmer or her job shes not up to it. Wonder what would have happened if a man had broken down sitting there? Its too an important a job to sit there crying while the world looks on. Sorry but that's my opinion, as a woman.

imAbat

Mrs. Badenoch was completely within her rights and was merely pointing out that Stsmarmer and his ineptitude was causing her to be miserable. This may or may not have been the case but Reeves should not have been making a public exhibition of herself.....if she wants to be a politician, behave like one!

But she didn't know what was causing the distress! She picked up on somebody at a moment of weakness, stuck the dagger in and turned it.

Badenoch has form. Strangely, it's usually women who are her victims.

I also found it shameful of the BBC to continually harp on about her distress. The PM said it was personal matters so it should be left alone. Did we learn NOTHING from the Catherine, Princess of Wales debacle @

growstuff

Thank you for writing that Susieq62. I really am no expert on benefits, but I can't help feeling that the media and public in general pick up on single headlines without a nuanced understanding of the underlying issues.

Absolutely this!
Getting tired of the lack of nuance and intelliegent scrutiny in the media which feedsinto people's petty prejudices.
We're all experts now, except we're not really...

I was quite shocked by what happened in the Commons at PMQs. Seeing anyone in distress like that is very uncomfortable, and Badenoch showed her true colours, which are nasty and unpleasant...there was no need for any of it really.

People should be professional in their beaviour and not conduct themselves like kids in a school playground.

I found it embarrassing and demeaning...whatever the reason.

Kemi Badenoch has never anything but negative comments. I haven't heard her give any of the Tory plans. It's their mess that Labiour is trying their best to put right.

Mrs. Badenoch was completely within her rights and was merely pointing out that Stsmarmer and his ineptitude was causing her to be miserable. This may or may not have been the case but Reeves should not have been making a public exhibition of herself.....if she wants to be a politician, behave like one!

Thank you for writing that Susieq62. I really am no expert on benefits, but I can't help feeling that the media and public in general pick up on single headlines without a nuanced understanding of the underlying issues.

Mt61

Mt61

Yes Growstuff I totally agree that the system does need sorting, needs to be face to face interviews, to weedle out the not so bad, to the people that truly need it. (A family member was taken off pip, spina bifida, now early onset Parkinson’s), to some people that are so young & barely put into the system, are getting pip for a bit of depression.
My friend in her 70s, because of a tiny extra pension won’t receive the winter fuel. She won’t put on her calor gas heater on as it eats the gas. She has RA, her hands are stiff with the cold.

£200 would have bought my friend two large bottles of gas.

How long would that have lasted?

I didn't receive the WFA as a result of my pensions, but I still have to pay rent. £200 wouldn't pay for two months' winter fuel bills.

I did notice the difference, especially as it had been £500 the previous year, but I've never earmarked WFA fuel allowance for fuel. I pay by direct debit, so it works out to £4 a week. I just have to be a bit extra careful with money every week. It's a tiny fraction of my outgoings.

TBH I think there's a lot of virtue-signalling and people aren't addressing the real issues. WFA has become just an easy target.

Grow stuff I am in your court as I think KB behaved immaturely like a bully in the playground! RR has made some enemies due to rushed ill thought out decisions but did not deserve to be treated so badly by KB ! We have no idea about why she was upset and I refuse to speculate about it! In the scale of things there are more problems to ponder as opposed to the tabloids, as usual, making a big deal out of it all! I know two ladies who, in their previous jobs, had dealings with RR and said she was a very hard nosed person! So she must have had something which really got to her!
Being in the political limelight must take its toll! Nobody is immune to life so a bit of empathy/sympathy might be worth considering!
Having been a CAB adviser for 10 years I totally agree with an overhaul of the benefits system ! It is not fit for purpose
Farmers are a different ball game and we cannot lump them all together due to their different circumstances as you cannot lump all pensioners together for WFA!
A year is a long time in politics but the previous 14 years were endless !!!

Mt61

Yes Growstuff I totally agree that the system does need sorting, needs to be face to face interviews, to weedle out the not so bad, to the people that truly need it. (A family member was taken off pip, spina bifida, now early onset Parkinson’s), to some people that are so young & barely put into the system, are getting pip for a bit of depression.
My friend in her 70s, because of a tiny extra pension won’t receive the winter fuel. She won’t put on her calor gas heater on as it eats the gas. She has RA, her hands are stiff with the cold.

£200 would have bought my friend two large bottles of gas.

Yes Growstuff I totally agree that the system does need sorting, needs to be face to face interviews, to weedle out the not so bad, to the people that truly need it. (A family member was taken off pip, spina bifida, now early onset Parkinson’s), to some people that are so young & barely put into the system, are getting pip for a bit of depression.
My friend in her 70s, because of a tiny extra pension won’t receive the winter fuel. She won’t put on her calor gas heater on as it eats the gas. She has RA, her hands are stiff with the cold.

GrannyGravy13

I am not a fan of Angela Rayner, I would have had more respect for her if she had acknowledged RR’s distress. The same goes for the PM, I do not buy into the excuses that they didn’t notice/know

All it would have taken was a hand on her arm, like the hand on RR’s shoulder from the MP immediately behind her.

This they would have had to been statues to have not noticed her distress, some gentleman sitting behind her was decent enough to put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

I don’t feel sorry for her yes it was uncomfortable to watch but if it was something personal and that’s the spin her advisors are going with then she should have excused herself from being there. If it was work related then she shouldn’t be in the job