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.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 15, 2025 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 15, 2025 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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.