Ministers are attempting to close ranks around Reeves this morning. Can only last so long…
Starmer said of Reeves to the BBC last night: “She and I work together, we think together… We jointly worked on the spending review … In the past, there have been examples — I won’t give any specifics — of chancellors and prime ministers who weren’t in lockstep. We’re in lockstep.” Starmer refused to back her at PMQs before his spokesman scrambled to assure her for the entire parliament straight after…
This morning health secretary Wes Streeting said on LBC Reeves will “bounce back“:
“I’ve been in touch with her. I’ve not spoken to her. I know the prime minister spoke to her straight after prime minister’s questions. But you know Rachel, she is a tough cookie. She’ll bounce back. I think what makes Rachel different to a lot of people who will be listening this morning is that you know everyone will identify with when things are going on in your life and you go to work, you don’t just leave your problems at the door, they stay with you. I think what makes Rachel and all of us different is that when we’re not just at work, we’re often on show.”
Asked whether Reeves should have been in the chamber at all Streeting said: “Well, I’m sure she’ll be asking herself that very question. But I do know that she’s tough. She’s resilient. She will bounce back.” Easier to be bounced into a reshuffle…
Burnham confirms he spoke to Trump last night about drilling in the North Sea:
“I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here. There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president…”