Ever wondered if it’s possible to deliver a worthy speech about NHS reform while your mouth is locked in a rictus grin? Wonder no more. Rachel Reeves has done it. And there’s photographic evidence to prove it. In fact, getting the photos and television footage was the whole point.
There was a lot going on when Chancellor made a surprise appearance at a press conference in an east London health centre, where the Government was announcing its 10-year NHS plan. But the message from her and the Prime Minister was clear – she’s keeping her job.
Strictly speaking, this was meant to be Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s big day. He’s in charge of the NHS, after all. But the Prime Minister got in on the act and made sure he was present to deliver a big speech of his own.
That’s par for the course. Every Prime Minister likes to be the centre of attention.
In the event, however, they were both upstaged by the Chancellor, who turned up to say a few words of her own. Every eye, and camera lens, was on her, following her teary breakdown in the Chamber of the Commons on Wednesday.
Would you know it, she was all smiles. She beamed at the assembled media. There was no mention of the previous day’s events – all down to a private “personal matter”, we’re told – but the grin said it all. She’s fine. She’s coping with the stress. She certainly has no plans to quit her job. Nothing to see here.
When it came time for the media to ask questions, a number of hacks attempted to coax the Chancellor to reveal what had upset her so much in the Commons. But she stayed silent while the Prime Minister answered instead, and gushed about what a wonderful job Ms Reeves is doing.
He had a message of his own, when he said the pair made decisions together and would do so for “many years” to come.
On Wednesday, when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked whether Ms Reeves was being lined up for the sack, Sir Keir failed to back his Chancellor.
A day later, he made up for lost time. His comments made it very clear that Ms Reeves will not be the victim of a reshuffle. Her job is safe.
The Prime Minister said: “I’m trying not to stand here and speak for the Chancellor, but as she’s made clear on a number of occasions, yesterday was a personal issue, and I’m certainly not going to say anything more about that.
“I think it’s just fantastic she’s here and, as I say, none of this would be happening if she hadn’t taken the decisions that she’s taken.
“So she took those decisions, and she would take them for many years to come.”
Should we believe him? Well, yes – because he can’t possibly sack her now. If one thing is clear, it’s that he’s stuck with her.