Keir Starmer said the chancellor had his “full confidence” and was doing a “fantastic job”, but would not say that she would remain in post for the duration of the parliament.
This contradicted one of the unwritten rules of British politics, which is that chancellors are always “unassailable” – Margaret Thatcher’s description of Nigel Lawson – until they aren’t.
The reason for this is that prime ministers’ fates are tied to those of their most important minister. That is especially so in this case: Starmer and Reeves have been a double act for four years. They fought the election together, and they have governed together. They are united on the big decisions, even if Starmer has delegated responsibility for some of the tough choices to her, which was a sign that he trusts her judgement.
The winter fuel decision was hers alone, and Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, the new chief of staff, soon thought it was a mistake, but it is not the kind of thing you change your chancellor over.
And you can’t change your chancellor over the big decisions, such as raising taxes, because they are always the joint property of Nos 10 and 11. John Major sacked Norman Lamont eight months after the exchange-rate debacle of 1992, but that was his policy more than it was Lamont’s and it did him no good to make a belated scapegoat of his chancellor.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 15, 2025-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 15, 2025-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
United boosted by lucky victory but remain flawed
“They were lucky to win tonight,” Marco Silva said after Fulham’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Second Australian Open title in a row for Sinner
Zverev says rival in 'different universe' after straight sets loss
GOING ORGANIC
The Independent's expert Rosamund Hall explores if grapes grown without pesticides are all they are cracked up to be
Peace deal only chance’ to free hostages, say families
Those waiting for relatives and friends to come home after being held in Gaza urge Israel and Hamas to honour ceasefire
Presence of Zelensky ally at inauguration shows Trump backs Ukraine, say insiders
Concerns that Donald Trump may be prepared to ditch America’s support for Ukraine and president Volodymyr Zelensky are wrong, insiders have claimed.
The rise, fall and rise of an actor too good to be ignored
As Adrien Brody mounts a comeback courtesy of ambitious drama ‘The Brutalist', Louis Chilton explores why the Oscar winner endured years of cinematic Siberia after 'The Pianist'
Leicester outsmart Spurs as Postecoglou under pressure
Two goals in four second-half minutes helped Leicester earn a first Premier League win since 3 December with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham to pile more pressure on Ange Postecoglou.
How Trump’s tech bros sucked the life out of Texas
A new broligarchy’ of the super-rich has emerged in the US but it is the ordinary citizens and the cities they live in who will suffer from unrestrained growth, warns Alex Hannaford
China pours tens of millions into the top UK universities
Top British universities have received tens of millions of pounds from Chinese organisations, The Independent can reveal, as experts warn the UK is increasingly becoming a target for Beijing as it looks to increase its global influence and stifle criticism.
If Russian spies are in UK waters, we have to respond
There have been strong words from Defence Secretary John Healey after a British submarine had to warn off a Russian spy ship in UK waters. His message for Russia was: “We know what you are doing.