Reeves is 'going nowhere' says No10 after Chancellor's tears in Commons

Rachel Reeves is “going nowhere” and will remain as Chancellor, Downing Street said, despite Sir Keir Starmer declining to give her a public show of support.

- by Charles Brown

The Chancellor was visibly tearful in the Commons yesterday as her position came under intense scrutiny after the welfare U-turn which put an almost £5 billion black hole in her plans.

But allies said she was dealing with a “personal matter” and No 10 said she had Sir Keir's “full backing”.

Sir Keir, who stumbled on his way out of Downing Street when heading to Prime Minister's Questions, faced questions over his handling of a welfare reform package which has been stripped of key elements to limit the scale of a Labour revolt.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Ms Reeves looked “miserable” and challenged the Prime Minister to say whether she would keep her job until the next election.