Rachel Reeves was televised crying at Prime Minister’s Questions as Keir Starmer refused to confirm whether the Chancellor would remain in post into the next election.
It was an ugly picture and the markets thought so too with the pound tumbling and the cost of government borrowing rising in response.
A difficult week
This week has been particularly difficult for Reeves, one filled with U-turns, disappointment and criticism from all sides – a political tightrope not even the most experienced politicians could navigate with ease.
Reeves could be seen behind the Prime Minister crying, with media outlets and social media blowing up with comments – some seeking to comfort the chancellor and others jumping on the bandwagon of barbs over Tuesday night’s vote on the government’s controversial welfare reforms.
Viewpoint
While the situation the chancellor finds herself in may be very difficult, it is a challenge of the government’s own making. The chancellor’s government. It was the government’s failure in managing the economy, communicating with its own MPs and PR management which boxed Reeves into a corner.
Reeves finds herself with two options.
She can either … step down, admit the job is too much for her and that she cannot handle the pressure.
Or … she can stay in post, accept the notion of collective ministerial responsibility and take accountability for her actions and the actions of the government.
But instead, she and the rest of the government persistently blame someone else, whether it be the previous government, international crises or any other slight inconvenience to their woeful agenda.
And, without wishing to kick the chancellor when she’s down, it would be simply stunning if, in the fullness of time, however this plays out for her personally, she doesn’t concoct a version of events which exonerates her and lays the blame for this mess at someone else’s door. I’d love to be proven wrong on this.
Labour’s struggle goes on
If Starmer sacks Reeves, or if the chancellor steps down, the challenges will persist.
The government – this week celebrating (is that the right word?) a year in power – has at most four years to solve the current cluster of problems, many of which are of its own making, and improve its position in the polls.
West Midlands News spoke to an 18 year old voter who said: “Crying in Parliament is not acceptable. I want a leader, not a melt, in that top role.”
Though a political resurrection is very much possible, Labour’s position this week makes one thing abundantly clear: it will be no easy task.
