Rachel Reeves Breaks Silence Over Leadership Rows With Slapdown For Starmer's Rivals

Rachel Reeves has hit out at Labour MPs considering launching a leadership bid against Keir Starmer by warning that it could plunge “the country into chaos”.

Until now, the chancellor had avoided weighing in on the growing calls for the prime minister to step down in the wake of Labour’s catastrophic election results in England, Wales and Scotland.

But on Thursday morning, Reeves stood outside Downing Street speaking to the media after the UK economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year – despite the destabilising war in Iran.

The chancellor said this growth enabled the government to invest more in the public services, and support families and businesses with the cost of living.

“But that is only possible because of the economic stability that we have brought back to our economy,” Reeves told the BBC.

“We shouldn’t put that at risk by plunging the country into chaos at a time when there is conflict in the world, but also at a time when our plan to grow the economy is starting to bear fruit.”

Asked if her message to expected leadership rivals like health secretary Wes Streeting is that a contest would “plunge the UK into chaos”, she avoided mentioning anyone by name.

But, she pointedly said: “Today there will be numbers also about the NHS performance.

“Because of the additional money, £29 billion a year, that I’ve been able to put into the health service as chancellor, means that those waiting lists should continue to fall.”

Reeves’ comments also come after former deputy PM Angela Rayner was cleared by the tax man, leaving her free to run in a potential leadership contest.

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