Rachel Reeves talks about 'tough day' as she speaks about her tears in the Commons
The Chancellor has addressed the issue which sparked a large amount of speculation on Wednesday, July 2
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves take a selfie with staff during a visit
(Image: Getty Images )
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has spoken for the first time since becoming visibly emotional during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
Footage of Reeves showed her wiping away her tears as she sat next to Keir Starmer on the Labour frontbench. The Prime Minister has said he was unaware of his colleague's distress as he answered questions from MPs in the weekly session in the Commons. Although he failed to make a commitment about the Chancellor's future PMQs, he has since said she is doing a great job.
In a BBC interview today, Reeves spoke personally about what happened on Wednesday for the first time. She said: 'Clearly I was upset yesterday and everyone could see that.' For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
She explained that attending the PMQ's is part of her role even on difficult days and she wanted to carry out her duties as expected.
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a speech unveiling Labour's plans to "rewire" the NHS in front of staff during a visit to the Sir Ludwig Guttman Health & Wellbeing Centre
(Image: Getty Images )
She told the BBC: 'The thing that maybe is a bit different between my job and many of your viewers' is that, when I'm having a tough day, it's on the telly and most people don't have to deal with that.
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'I think that people can see that Keir and me are a team.'
Reeves pointed to their shared record in reshaping Labour over the last few years and said they had worked closely on key policy areas, noting: 'We fought the election together, we changed the Labour Party together… and over the last year, we've worked lockstep together.'
Keir Starmer defended Reeves shortly after the incident in the Commons, calling it 'absolutely wrong' to link her tears to the party's recent U-turn on welfare reform.
(Image: PA )
Asked by Chris Evans how the Chancellor is, he said: "She's fine. She's very resilient and strong is Rachel.
'She's driven through lots of change in the Labour Party.
"We had to change the Labour Party, we fought an election together and I've seen her resilience." You can read more about what the Prime Minister had to say about the welfare of the chancellor here.
Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves share an embrace
(Image: Getty Images )
Reeves also added while on camera speaking to the BBC: 'I think all your viewers have had tough days, for personal reasons, for whatever reasons.
'I happened to be on the camera when I had a tough day.
'Today is a new day and I'm just getting on with the job.'
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
(Image: Getty Images )
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The Chancellor continues to lead on Labour's economic policy including long-term fiscal planning and reforms to public services.
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