God, what a mess.
I've covered politics for twelve years now, and I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like what happened in the Commons today. Rachel Reeves - the bloody Chancellor of the Exchequer - sitting there with actual tears streaming down her face while Keir Starmer basically refused to say she'd keep her job. The whole thing was painful to watch, like witnessing a car crash in slow motion.
When Your Boss Won't Have Your Back
The drama unfolded during PMQs, which is usually just political theater anyway. But this felt different. Raw. Reeves was sitting right next to Starmer when Kemi Badenoch went for the jugular, asking whether the Chancellor would still be around for the next election. Simple question, right? The kind any decent leader answers with "absolutely" without hesitation.
Starmer dodged it completely.
I actually felt sorry for Reeves in that moment. Her own sister Ellie (also an MP) had to reach over and give her a hug right there on the front bench. Someone handed her chewing gum - probably to help compose herself. The cameras caught everything, of course. Poor woman looked like she wanted to disappear.
The Welfare Fiasco That Started It All
This whole disaster stems from Labour's botched welfare reforms, which have been falling apart faster than a cheap umbrella in a storm. Originally supposed to save £4.8 billion annually, the package has been gutted so many times it's barely recognizable. First they watered it down to save £2.3 billion after MPs revolted. Then last night - literally 90 minutes before the vote - they scrapped the Personal Independence Payment changes entirely.
Forty-nine Labour MPs still voted against their own government anyway. That's the biggest rebellion since they took power, and honestly? I don't blame them. The whole thing has been handled with all the finesse of a drunk elephant.
The PIP reforms were meant to kick in November 2026, changing the scoring system so disabled claimants would need at least four points in one activity instead of eight points across multiple tasks. Sounds technical, but it would've made benefits much harder to get for vulnerable people.
Badenoch Smells Blood
Kemi Badenoch absolutely went for it today, and you could tell she was enjoying every second. "She looks absolutely miserable," she said about Reeves. "Labour MPs are going on the record saying the chancellor is toast." Brutal stuff, but not exactly wrong either.
Then came the killer line: "The reality is she's a human shield for his incompetence."
Ouch. That one had to sting because it rings true. Reeves has been taking all the heat for policies that Starmer presumably signed off on. When your own party members are briefing against you and your boss won't publicly back you, well... that's when the tears start flowing on live television.
What Happens Next?
The welfare changes are now on hold until some review reports back in autumn 2026. So basically, they've kicked the can down the road and hoped everyone forgets about it. Classic political move, but it leaves Reeves' economic plans in tatters.
I texted a Labour insider after PMQs ended. Their response? "It's a complete mess. Nobody knows what we're doing anymore."
That about sums it up. Two major U-turns in one week, a Chancellor in tears, and a PM who won't guarantee his own finance minister will keep her job. Not exactly the strong, stable government Labour promised during the election campaign.
Sometimes politics is just human drama played out on the biggest stage possible. Today was one of those days, and Rachel Reeves paid the price in front of millions of viewers.
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Did you miss our previous article...
https://hellofaread.com/politics/the-bbc-just-handed-antisemites-a-microphone-at-glastonbury-and-im-done-making-excuses
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