A Chancellor's Tough Day and Teamwork Triumph

Rachel Reeves, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, had a rough day. She admitted she was "clearly upset" during a recent session in the House of Commons. Reeves didn't share many details, just saying she was dealing with a personal issue. She quickly moved on, focusing on her job and the government's plans for the NHS. The day didn't start well. After Reeves showed emotion in Parliament, there was some uncertainty about her future. But her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stepped in to show support. He said Reeves was a key part of his team and would stay in her role for a long time. To show they were united, Reeves joined Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting at a hospital to talk about new health centers. Reeves later spoke to reporters. She said everyone has tough days, and hers just happened to be on camera. She made it clear she was ready for her job as Chancellor. When asked about Starmer's initial lack of support, she said their teamwork spoke for itself. They had worked together to change the Labour Party and win the election. Starmer also had kind words for Reeves. He praised her work, saying it allowed the government to invest more in the NHS. He admitted he didn't notice her distress during the Commons session because he was busy answering questions. Starmer said he had a long talk with Reeves afterward and found her to be strong and resilient. There had been some talk about Reeves' future after Labour rebels forced changes to welfare reforms. This put a £5bn hole in Reeves' spending plans. To stick to her borrowing rules, she might have to cut spending or raise taxes in the autumn budget. Starmer didn't confirm if taxes would go up, saying no one writes a budget in advance. The opposition's shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, felt for Reeves but criticized the government's decisions. He predicted tax rises in the autumn due to what he called "bungling and chaos. "