Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed she felt distinctly 'uncomfortable' listening to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's highly personal response to last week's Budget, which included mocking impersonations and direct attacks on her competence.
A Clash of Styles in the Commons
The political tension erupted in the House of Commons on Wednesday during the traditional Budget reply. Mrs Badenoch launched a stinging critique, labelling Ms Reeves as 'spineless, shameless and completely aimless'.
In a remark that drew particular attention, the Tory leader added: 'Let me explain to the Chancellor, woman to woman: people out there aren’t complaining because she’s female, they’re complaining because she is utterly incompetent.' As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves conferred on the front bench, Mrs Badenoch interjected to ask, 'Is he mansplaining to you, by the way?'
Defence and Counter-Accusations
Appearing on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Chancellor Reeves made her feelings clear. 'I don’t like that sort of stuff. I don’t do it. I try to concentrate on policies rather than personalities,' she stated. 'So, yes, I was a bit uncomfortable listening to that, because it’s not really the way that I behave, but people are entitled to deliver the Budget response that they want and she focused on personalities.'
When questioned on whether her approach was excessive, Kemi Badenoch was unrepentant. She defended her performance by recalling past criticisms from Labour, mentioning a swipe from Ms Reeves herself and the party's treatment of former Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.
'They like to dish it, but they can’t take it,' Mrs Badenoch asserted. She firmly stood by her statement that her 'job is to hold the Government to account, not to provide emotional support for the Chancellor'. She accused the Chancellor of 'raising taxes to pay for welfare' and declared that she 'should resign' for doing a 'terrible job'.
The Wider Political Fallout
This public disagreement highlights a significant divergence in political debating styles at the highest level of UK politics. The exchange raises questions about the line between robust parliamentary scrutiny and personal attack, setting a contentious tone for the new parliamentary session. The focus has now shifted from the Budget's contents to the conduct of the politicians debating it, signalling a potentially bruising period of political opposition ahead.
