The 1 clear signal Rachel Reeves was crumbling says physique language knowledgeable | Politics | News | EUROtoday

A physique language knowledgeable has make clear Rachel Reeves’ emotional show throughout Prime Minister’s Questions – suggesting she was already “struggling” to comprise her tears earlier than Keir Starmer started to talk. The Chancellor was visibly tearful as her place got here below shut scrutiny within the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon after Labour’s U-turn on welfare dealt an nearly £5 billion blow to her fiscal plans. Sir Keir Starmer dodged questions on whether or not she would retain her place till the top of the Parliament however a spokesperson for Number 10 later mentioned she was “going nowhere”.

“Reeves was clearly struggling with her emotions before PMQs started but the moment the tears seemed to become uncontrollable was as she was watching Starmer try to list all his party’s achievements and when he appeared unwilling or unable to answer questions about his chancellor remaining in her role,” physique language knowledgeable Judi James informed the Express. “Her body looked slewed to one side in a form of slump, with her shoulders hunched and her head low,” she mentioned.

Ms James mentioned the chancellor “appeared to try to smile” when accused of wanting “miserable” by Tory chief Kemi Badenoch, regardless of close-up footage displaying “tears running down her face … and her eyes getting red”.

“She might have been worried about the actual act of being seen wiping them away with a hand or a hankie, but the jerky blinking and the small head tosses did little to get rid of them or draw attention away from them,” the knowledgeable added.

“Her chin was also seen to be crumpling, which is a sure sign of authentic tears, suggesting distress. It was probably her inability to know what to do at this moment that was the most concerning.

“She may have blown her nostril and handed it off with the wave of a hand, suggesting hay fever, however her physique language prompt she had no actual thought the best way to both battle the tears or the best way to carry them off in such a public place.”

Starmer faced an onslaught of questions over his handling of Labour’s welfare reform package during PMQs after the Government was forced to scrap key elements of the plans after MPs staged the largest rebellion of the PM’s premiership.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Reeves looked “completely depressing” sitting behind Sir Keir and challenged him to confirm that she would still be in post by the end of the Parliament – a question that he dodged by replying that Badenoch herself “certaintly will not”.

Badenoch also called on Starmer to reassure Brits worried that the welfare revolt will necessitate tax hikes in the autumn budget.

The Prime Minister responded: “She is aware of that no Prime Minister or Chancellor ever stands on the despatch field and writes budgets sooner or later.”