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…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”