It's grins all round on Labour's frontbench, even as PMQs ends in another dull stalemate

Spare a thought for Rachel Reeves. After last week’s mini-meltdown during prime minister’s questions, the chancellor is now condemned to spend the next year grinning manically every time she’s out and about in public. Having a bad day at the office? GRIN. Had a row with the kids? GRIN. Now there is no escape.

- John Crace

So Reeves entered the Commons alongside Keir Starmer for this week’s PMQs grinning wildly. Of course she did. And it must have taken all Kemi Badenoch’s self-control not to have made fun of the chancellor. Badenoch is hardwired to kick an opponent when she’s down. But well done, Kemi, for doing the right thing. Unfortunately for her that was about the only thing she did get right. Not that Starmer himself was on sparkling form. The chaos of the welfare bill has clearly ground him down. It was more that the Tory leader felt a bit distracted herself. As though her heart wasn’t fully in it either. Semidetached Kemi. This PMQs was just another chore on the list.

"Labour said there would be no more rises in income tax, personal national insurance and VAT," she began. "Is that a promise you intend to keep?"