Smiles for cameras but Reeves' 'tough day' real 'blow to PM's authority'

KEIR Starmer was forced to guarantee Rachel Reeves will keep her job for “many years to come”, in a bid to end financial and political turmoil following her tears in Parliament.

- By Jonathan Walker

But Labour insiders said the Prime Minister’s authority was in tatters with former Cabinet Minister Ed Balls warning: “It’s been the worst week for Labour governments for a long time”.

The Chancellor made a surprise appearance alongside the Prime Minister at the launch of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, with the pair hugging in a public show of unity.

It came after Sir Keir triggered a slump in the value of the pound and long-term government bonds, pushing up the price of government borrowing, by failing to back Ms Reeves on Wednesday as she wept beside him.

He struck a different tone in a London health centre, watched by Ms Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, as he gave his Chancellor the credit for English NHS reforms and promised not to sack her. The Prime Minister said: “It’s just fantastic she’s here and none of this would be happening if she hadn’t taken the decisions that she’s taken.

“So she took those decisions, and she would take them for many years to come.”

Sir Keir, who celebrates 12 months as Prime Minister tomorrow, insisted he had not meant to undermine Ms Reeves by failing to back her in the face of hostile questioning from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.