Why UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves broke down in Parliament and what it means for PM Keir Starmer

What triggered the tears?

At the centre of the PMQs session was Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sudden U-turn on a central plank of its welfare reform bill, a move forced by a rebellion from nearly 50 Labour MPs. The reversal wiped out a multibillion-pound surplus and blew a £5 billion hole in Reeves’ budget calculations, raising concerns she may have to hike taxes, something she has long resisted.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch seized on the chaos, suggesting Reeves was being used as a “human shield” for Starmer’s blunders. Badenoch also needled the visibly shaken Chancellor, saying she looked “absolutely miserable”, and questioned whether she would survive politically until the next election.

Starmer refused to directly affirm Reeves’ position, replying instead that Badenoch “certainly won’t” be in government, prompting further jabs and speculation.

While Reeves’ team chalked up the tears to a “personal matter,” others speculated about a potential row with Starmer or Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who reportedly chastised Reeves three times earlier for giving overly long answers.

At one point during Treasury questions, Hoyle interrupted her again and she responded curtly, “Oh, alright then.” Moments later, she was seen tearing up and clasping her sister MP Ellie Reeves’ hand as the session ended.

Reeves’ office has refused to comment on the cause, citing privacy.

The financial markets didn’t wait for context. Sterling dipped 1 per cent against the dollar, ending a strong run. Bond yields jumped, echoing the panic of October 2022 when Liz Truss’s mini-budget caused market chaos and led to her resignation.

Starmer stands by his chancellor

In the aftermath, Starmer backed Reeves, telling BBC Radio 4 she was doing “an excellent job” and would remain in her position “for a very long time to come.”

“This has nothing to do with politics,” he said. “It was a personal matter for her, and I’m not going to intrude on her privacy.”

Downing Street reinforced that message, insisting “the chancellor is going nowhere.”

(With Inputs from AP and Reuters)

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