Chancellor's tears sparked debate on power of images

THEY say that a picture speaks a thousand words, and nowhere is this more accurate than in the image of Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, crying during a heated debate in PMQs.

- Carolyn Pugsley, director of Freshwater, on the tears of Chancellor Rachel Reeves

As Sir Keir Starmer stood at the despatch box, Reeves sat behind him, visibly distressed, wiping tears away from her face. For the Chancellor, there was nowhere to hide as leaving her seat would only have made matters worse.

Soon, the image had gone viral, making headlines across the globe and unsettling international markets. As the tears fell, so did the pound, dropping 1% against the dollar. Meanwhile, government borrowing costs soared in one of the biggest single day moves in bond prices since the turmoil caused by Truss’ infamous mini-budget in October 2022.

The markets were responding to the uncertainty over Reeves’ future, putting the government's strict fiscal rules in doubt.

Meanwhile, the image sparked a wider cultural debate, with commentators wading in with their thoughts as to whether it's ever appropriate to cry in the workplace.