TryGOLD- Free

With blood in the water, Reeves still swims to safety
The Independent|January 15, 2025
Imagine watching Jaws, hearing the music rev up as the camera surges through the water and waiting for the great white shark to emerge. Except that instead of a killing machine, a harmless chunk of driftwood bobs up from the depths.
- JOE MURPHY
With blood in the water, Reeves still swims to safety

It was a bit like that in the Commons as Rachel Reeves arrived to “face the music” for turmoil in the bond market. Blood was in the water … but would there be a bloodbath?

A quick recap: the chancellor flew back from China on Monday with bags under her eyes so big that EasyJet would have made her check them in. Labour MPs had been briefing the Sunday papers that her job was at risk and, unhelpfully, the PM publicly failed to guarantee her future.

Just after 1pm, Reeves, looking serious and even chastened, slipped onto the front bench. She was flanked by two of the cabinet members being quoted in the bookies as potential successors: her deputy Darren Jones (6/10) and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds (4/1). Fellow Blairite Liz Kendall was there, as was deputy PM and chief left winger Angela Rayner.

The official purpose of Reeves’s statement was to update MPs on her visit to Beijing. Not even she could muster much swagger for the £600m of deals (over five years) she brought home, describing them with sensible moderation as “tangible benefits”.

Sharks, it is said, are attracted by the splashing of an injured fish. So it was time for a maneater to finish her off. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride climbed to his feet. Cue the music.

This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of The Independent.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of The Independent.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE INDEPENDENTView All
Joy of The One Show is in its unapologetic weirdness
The Independent

Joy of The One Show is in its unapologetic weirdness

On paper, BBC One’s weeknight light entertainment show should be one of the broadcaster’s most tedious programmes. But its jarring tonal shifts and random guest list often make for brilliantly bizarre viewing, writes Katie Rosseinsky

time-read
6 mins  |
January 29, 2025
Amateur fossil hunter finds 66-million-year-old vomit
The Independent

Amateur fossil hunter finds 66-million-year-old vomit

A piece of fossilised vomit from the age of the dinosaurs has been found in Denmark, the Museum of East Zealand announced on Monday.

time-read
1 min  |
January 29, 2025
The stars who could set this season’s Six Nations alight
The Independent

The stars who could set this season’s Six Nations alight

The Independent’s writers pick six players with potential

time-read
5 mins  |
January 29, 2025
Why Barca’s ballsy offside trap could change the game
The Independent

Why Barca’s ballsy offside trap could change the game

Weird and wonderful things are happening at Barcelona this season.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 29, 2025
Get ready for the chaos of Champions League finals’
The Independent

Get ready for the chaos of Champions League finals’

Man City among the giants facing crunch matches tonight

time-read
5 mins  |
January 29, 2025
Without immigration, wed be a lonely, isolated isle
The Independent

Without immigration, wed be a lonely, isolated isle

A paradox of public opinion is that immigration is unpopular, but immigrants are not.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 29, 2025
UK faces care timebomb as over-85s are set to double
The Independent

UK faces care timebomb as over-85s are set to double

The government is being urged to pour more funding into the care system after new projections showed the country is facing a social care timebomb as the number of over-85s is set to double over the next two decades.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 29, 2025
Five years after Brexit, the Rock’s still in a hard place
The Independent

Five years after Brexit, the Rock’s still in a hard place

The future of Gibraltar is being decided by long, tense treaty negotiations with the UK, Spain and EU. Sarah Sands visits to see what is at stake for the strategic port and its residents

time-read
6 mins  |
January 29, 2025
‘Those military guys have a sick sense of humour too’
The Independent

‘Those military guys have a sick sense of humour too’

Palestinian-American Mo Amer talks with Annabel Nugent about the return of his TV show, his family in the West Bank, and performing stand-up for US troops months after 9/11

time-read
8 mins  |
January 29, 2025
On a wing and a prayer
The Independent

On a wing and a prayer

‘Mixed mode’ could solve Heathrow’s capacity crunch long before a third runway. But the idea is unlikely to fly with Home Counties residents sick of noise, says Simon Calder

time-read
3 mins  |
January 29, 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more