LIVE: Rachel Reeves had ‘altercation’ before emotional PMQs

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has claimed Rachel Reeves’ political career is ‘dead’.

While not mentioning her tears in the Commons specifically, Jenrick said the Chancellor’s position was untenable following drastic changes to the Government’s welfare reforms last night.

The Tories have said ‘we need to know what’s going on’ with Rachel Reeves after her spokesman said her emotional appearance at PMQs was related to a personal matter.

Kemi Badenoch’s spokesman said ‘personal matter doesn’t really clear it up’ and ‘you normally tell people what the personal matter is’.

Asked whether politicians should disclose all personal matters in their lives regardless of what they are, he said: ‘That’s an absurd question.’

He added: ‘I’m not going to speculate… I think we should find out what’s going on.’

by Dan Hodges

The House of Commons has just witnessed one of its most incredible – and distressing – sessions of Prime Minister’s Questions. For the entire sitting, Chancellor Rachel Reeves visibly struggled to keep her emotions together, as tears streaked her face.

The Prime Minister was asked to confirm she would remain in post. He refused, and referred to her tenure in office in the past tense.

It’s important to withhold judgment until all the facts are known, but the sight of a Chancellor in tears justs adds to the impression that the government is falling apart.

Following her punchy performance at PMQs, Kemi Badenoch has taken to social media to say Rachel Reeves has been ‘humiliated’ by her boss Sir Keir Starmer.

The Conservative leader noted Reeves looked ‘absolutely miserable’ during her visibly upset appearance in the Commons earlier.

Here’s what the Leader of the Opposition tweeted following the exchange:

As the Chancellor left the Commons after Prime Minister’s Questions her sister and fellow Labour MP, Ellie Reeves, took her hand in an apparent show of support.

Asked about her tears, a spokesman for the Chancellor said:

It’s a personal matter which, as you would expect, we are not going to get into. The Chancellor will be working out of Downing Street this afternoon.

A Labour minister has claimed Rachel Reeves had an ‘altercation’ with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle before her emotional appearance in the Commons today.

The unnamed politician told reporters the Chancellors had a ‘row’ with Sir Lindsay who is believed to have later apologised. The nature of the apparent altercation was not disclosed.

The minister said:

She had an altercation with Lindsay [Hoyle] just before PMQs. They had a row. I think he ended up apologising to her.

Another minister added:

She’s totally fine. I’ve just been to her office and spoken to her and she’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about.

Downing Street has said Rachel Reeves is ‘going nowhere’ despite Sir Keir Starmer declining to give her a public show of support.

Asked why Sir Keir did not confirm in the Commons that he still had faith in Ms Reeves, the Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters:

He has done so repeatedly. The Chancellor is going nowhere. She has the Prime Minister’s full backing.

He has said it plenty of times, he doesn’t need to repeat it every time the Leader of the Opposition speculates about Labour politicians.

Here is the extraordinary moment a tear rolled down Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ face during PMQs earlier today:

Rachel Reeves was seen in tears during PMQs today as Keir Starmer was battered over his welfare humbling.

The Chancellor was sitting next to Sir Keir as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

In an extraordinary moment, tears appeared to roll down Ms Reeves’ cheek as Kemi Badenoch demanded a guarantee she would stay in No11 – something the premier did not give. She was seen being comforted by her sister Ellie – also a Labour minister – as she left the chamber although Sir Keir did not speak to her.

Read more here:

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage following Rachel Reeves’ emotional appearance in Parliament this afternoon.

The Chancellor was visibly upset as tears rolled down her cheek during Prime Minister’s Questions in startling scenes during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Described as looking ‘completely miserable’ by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, questions have once again been raised about her future following shambolic last-minute changes to the Government’s planned welfare reforms last night.

Stick with our coverage as we bring you the latest developments from inside Westminster.