Rachel reeves

Starmer claims he was too focused on questions and the opposition to notice RR being so upset, I don’t know but I doubt he would have ignored it.
The state of her face was not the result of a sudden outburst of tears. Claiming he did not notice it is an excuse, unless he genuinely makes no eye-contact with anyone as he walks into Parliament, especially with the main members of his team.
Although being unwilling to make eye contact is an issue for . . .

I still think KB’s words were unnecessary, as was the TV’s repeated focus on RR’s face.

Would KS have done the same in opposition?
In the point scoring that went on, I can’t be sure that he wouldn’t have taken the same opportunity.
I can visualise him saying in that heckling voice of his, “Even your chancellor is upset by your U-turn which is going to affect her budget plans!”
Certainly he would use the they did it first excuse if the occasion arose.

Badenoch took Reeves distress as failure convince her party to back her policies, the personal aspect ( if there was one) was not revealed until later, and still not explained.

Badenoch did what any opposition would do, piled misery on misery. With hindsight Reeves should not have been there and a declaration made at the start of PMQ

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

RR looked as if she'd been crying for some time to get eyes that puffy.

Moving on, have the RR fans forgotten that she lied on her CV?

Iam64

I think it’s entirely possible to be reduced to tears one day, then smile after a nights sleep and reflection. It doesn’t mean anyone is fibbing

I agree

Sparklefizz

RR looked as if she'd been crying for some time to get eyes that puffy.

Moving on, have the RR fans forgotten that she lied on her CV?

My eyes go puffy after just a few tears! Some can cry for hours and look fine, some can cry for a bit and look awful (me!)

It wasn’t just her eyes though was it. She later blamed it on a hard day, but looked genuinely upset-as she could be over a personal matter, which could include her job or even just problems with her job.

She could quite reasonably have looked better after a night’s sleep and the makeup team had done a great job on her face the next day.

It isn’t about being a fan of Reeves. It’s about empathy for someone clearly distressed

I saw the original exchange live, I don't think KB was out of line.
It was a general observation, I said the same to DH at the time how miserable she looked.
So RR can have a pop at Liz Truss being a Lettuce, but no one is to upset her.

Sparklefizz

RR looked as if she'd been crying for some time to get eyes that puffy.

Moving on, have the RR fans forgotten that she lied on her CV?

No, but she is also just human too. How many MP's have done this? we don't actually know.

Pah - the things that Reform Candidates conceal and have concealed from murky racist and even misogynist posts !!!!!!!!

The things Reform candidates conceal . . .

are or could be wrong, but I don’t see why you use that to excuse RR.
I don’t see politics as a place for they did it first, so how can I be wrong excuses?

Mollygo

It wasn’t just her eyes though was it. She later blamed it on a hard day, but looked genuinely upset-as she could be over a personal matter, which could include her job or even just problems with her job.

She could quite reasonably have looked better after a night’s sleep and the makeup team had done a great job on her face the next day.

Did she really blame it on a hard day and not some personal crisis.
There will be many more “hard days”!

I thought it was not allowed to make personal remarks in Parliament. I thought the Speaker should have reprimanded KB...so rude too.

Did she really blame it on a hard day and not some personal crisis

What she actually said, in an interview with Sky News is as follows (I’m paraphrasing):

“I was upset. It’s a personal matter which I’m not going into. It was a tough day. The difference between me and many of your viewers is that, when I have a bad day, it’s in front of TV cameras”

The Sky News interviewer tried to push her further about the ‘personal issue’ (what a nice man!) but she refused to go into detail. Quite rightly!

There’s a video of the interview on Sky News online but I can’t seem to link it.

Might be a good idea for people to watch the whole clip rather than latch onto one tiny part of it e.g. “it was a tough day”🤷‍♀️

Mt61

Yes it wasn’t kind of KB. Then again KS did nothing to ease her stress, total robot.

..but as always he was not aware! Ha! Clearly she wanted to resign but he refused so he can use her as a human shield to deflect attention from his own shortcomings

She spoke of it being personal, she refused to answer questions
on the speaker

The markets picked up because they dropped significantly the day of the tears. She needs to resign she obviously cannot do the job. This country is on a slippery slope because of her policies. God help us all.

No sympathy from me. Vile woman. Can't wait for Labour to go.

As Theresa May said when she cried upon her resignation speech, a man who shows emotion is praised as he is strong , a woman is mocked because she is weak. I don't like Badenoch for not recognising another woman's distress and respecting it but the press has been awful about it.
At the end of the day, the person to be criticised soundly is Keir Starmer if criticism is due regarding the failure of their plans. Racheal Reeves can only put forward plans for expenditure with his say so.

Sewingpruso

I thought it was not allowed to make personal remarks in Parliament. I thought the Speaker should have reprimanded KB...so rude too.

Hear hear! Nasty piece of work.

I found it to be very uncomfortable viewing, so intrusive, poor woman was clearly very upset, for whatever reason,imagine having the whole world watch you in a state of despair, dreadful.

Sadly, the word that seems to me to best fit is "catty" - one woman to another.

I don't have much time for Rachel Reeves but I certainly felt for her being in obvious distress. As I say - obvious - so why didn't KS or whoever is responsible for the welfare of MPs tell her not to attend. He could have said she was unwell or whatever, but there was no need to subject her to such humiliation.

I do not support either of them
I'm sure Reeves' tears are nothing to the suffering she will (in part) cause the sick and needy
Politicians need to be tough, sorry

I totally agree Iam64
Why can’t we just let it pass why keep on and on picking the scab Who of us has not had a bad day that’s reduced us to feeling like shedding a tear it doesn’t matter whether it’s work personal or a combination. the woman was upset showed her human side kept herself in control she didn’t run out howling she found it impossible to hold back a quiet tear but even that’s not good enough ……..let’s all leave it be