
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves in tears at PMQs as Keir Starmer fails to back her
Keir Starmer's office scrambled to express support for a visibly emotional chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday after the UK prime minister himself failed to fully back her following a U-turn on the government's flagship welfare reforms that derailed her fiscal plans.
Asked at prime minister's questions (PMQs) to repeat his previous pledge that Ms Reeves would be in her post at the next general election – due by mid 2029 – Mr Starmer avoided answering. Instead, he suggested that Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch would be the one likely to vacate her position. Ms Reeves, who was sitting alongside Mr Starmer, appeared to brush tears away throughout the half-hour session in the House of Commons.

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Irish Times
26 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Irish Army Rangers board the MV Matthew in largest-ever drugs haul
Mr Starmer told Virgin Radio he had spoken to the chancellor and she was 'fine', and her tears were as a result of a 'purely personal' matter. (Reuters)


The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kneecap chants ‘f*** Keir Starmer' in another foul rant just days after sparking police probe at Glastonbury
RAPPERS Kneecap called out Keir Starmer for saying the group should be banned from Glastonbury Festival. The hip-hop group, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, spoke at London's Finsbury Park today - a week after performing at Glastonbury Festival. Advertisement 6 Kneecap chanted 'f*** Starmer' on stage in London's Finsbury Park on Saturday Credit: Getty 6 'They tried to stop us playing Glastonbury, and they f*****g couldn't,' Kneecap said Credit: Getty 6 A big crowd attended the gig Credit: PA 6 PM Keir Starmer said the Irish trio should be banned from performing at Glastonbury Credit: Reuters It came after the PM told The Sun on Sunday last month that the Irish trio should be banned from the music festival after a band member was charged with a terror offence. Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh told the crowd yesterday: 'Keir Starmer gave an interview with The Sun saying we shouldn't be playing Glastonbury - so f**k Keir Starmer.' 'F**k Keir Starmer - you're just a s**t Jeremy Corbyn.' Bandmate Naoise O Caireallain added: 'We appreciate all of this f*****g mad energy that we are getting in Finsbury Park. Advertisement Read more UK news 'Look, they tried to stop us playing Glastonbury, and they f*****g couldn't. 'They tried to stop us playing in Cornwall, and they f*****g couldn't stop that either." Og O hAnnaidh, 27, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, appeared in court last month, accused of displaying a flag in support of banned terror group Hezbollah at a gig. Advertisement Most read in The Sun He was bailed until later in the summer — leaving him free to play at Glastonbury. Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thought Kneecap should play at Glastonbury, the PM said: 'No I don't. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for Glastonbury to axe Kneecap from the line-up 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' During Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury, the group took to the stage and led a "free Palestine" chant before leading five chants against the Advertisement Meanwhile, Bobby Vylan - frontman of English punk-rap duo Bob Vylan - The BBC were Avon and Somerset Police confirmed on Monday that Posting on X, the force said: "Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury Festival has been reviewed. Advertisement "Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. "A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation. "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage." The force confirmed that it had received a "large amount" of contact from across the world about the controversial performances. Advertisement The Sun has contacted Avon and Somerset Police. 6 Fans during Kneecap's gig in London Credit: AP 6 Kneecap performing at Glastonbury Credit: Alamy


RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
UK bond rout draws Truss comparisons as public finances rattle investors
British government bonds tumbled sharply yesterday as a tearful appearance by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in parliament a day after the government backed down on its welfare reforms reignited concern over Britain's finances. Reeves was attending Prime Minister's Questions following the government's decision to sharply scale back plans to cut benefits. The sharp plunge in British assets immediately drew comparisons with Liz Truss' short-lived premiership nearly three years ago, which was derailed by a bond market selloff. Investors are monitoring Reeves' status after the UK government's reversal on welfare reforms meant the plans would no longer save taxpayers any money, shredding the margin Britain relies on to meet its fiscal rules. The welfare reform U-turn was "signalling that the Labour Party is a lot less concerned about what the gilt market thinks," said Gordon Shannon, portfolio manager, TwentyFour Asset Management. "I would have thought it was seared into politicians' memories what happened to Liz Truss," he added. The yield on the 10-year government bond, or gilt, rose as much as 22 basis points on the day at one point, to 4.681%, as investors ditched British debt. It then recovered somewhat to 4.60%. At its peak, the benchmark yield was set for its largest one-day jump since October 2022, the aftermath of Truss' chaotic package of large, unfunded tax cuts that scuttled her premiership. During the depths of the 2022 crisis, the yield on the 10-year gilt rose by 50 bps in a single day at one point. The selloff also hit very long dated gilts, and 30-year yields rose 17 basis points. "The latest headline would suggest more uncertainty with regards to the current government," said Simon Blundel, head of European fundamental fixed income investments at BlackRock. "It's another thing for us to look at and position for," he said, though he added that BlackRock had generally taken a positive stance towards gilts and the market was not as vulnerable as it was in 2022, when turmoil in Britain's pensions sector exacerbated moves. Investors in bonds around the world are growing increasingly nervous about government deficits from Japan to the US, with Britain seen as among the more vulnerable. Earlier yesterday, British assets were trading slightly lower, but the selloff intensified rapidly after Reeves appeared alongside Prime Minister Kier Starmer during the weekly prime minister's questions looking exhausted and upset. Traders also focused on comments from Starmer seemingly not endorsing Reeves, though Starmer's press secretary later said Reeves has his full support, and she was upset because of "a personal matter". Reeves has repeatedly emphasised her commitment to self-imposed fiscal rules, limiting the amount Britain will borrow, and, analysts said, yesterday's market moves reflected fears that she would be replaced, creating even more uncertainty. Reeves has also been blamed by some Labour members of parliament for pushing for billions of pounds of savings that were described as cruel and targeting the most vulnerable. Sterling dropped around 1% against the dollar and also weakened sharply against the euro, which rose 0.8% to its highest on the pound in two months. Britain's domestically focused mid-cap index was down 1.3% on the day, sharply underperforming European stocks. "The deficit is going to have to be closed somehow, clearly the signal from yesterday is that can't come from substantial spending cuts, I don't think it's possible for the government to borrow the money, that leaves tax rises," Nick Rees, head of macro research at Monex Europe, said.