Moments before Rachel Reeves commenced her Budget speech, there was a flurry of activity in the House of Commons chamber. The Chancellor received notes from her aides, while phone screens were presented to her for review.
In the gallery above, one of Reeves’ senior advisors was observed holding an iPhone in each hand, seemingly texting on both devices simultaneously. This scene brought to mind the image of a post-Blackberry Malcolm Tucker. It is speculated that the messages exchanged were of a nature akin to “OMG, OBR, WTF?”.
Thirty minutes prior, the Office for Budget Responsibility mistakenly published their analysis of the Budget, inadvertently revealing all the key figures. This mishap proved to be advantageous for Kemi Badenoch, whose advisor displayed enthusiastic energy in the gallery as Badenoch prepared for PMQs.
Badenoch, known for seizing opportunities, criticized the chaotic lead-up to the Budget, drawing comparisons to a Comedy Roast. However, her approach was met with a resounding response of “Kwasi Kwarteng” from the audience.
In response to the Budget, Reeves’ delivery was commended by friendly journalists as a marked improvement. Although initially disrupted by noise, her speech regained focus as she addressed the situation caused by the premature leak of budget numbers.
The incident of numbers being leaked early was acknowledged as a significant issue, impacting financial markets and causing apprehension among traders. Despite the disruption, Reeves emphasized that the Budget is not solely defined by numbers but by the narrative constructed around them.
Reeves repeatedly emphasized that the Budget reflected her choices, contrasting them with decisions made by the previous government. The highlight of her storytelling was the elimination of the two-child benefit limit, a move she took pride in announcing, highlighting the importance of supporting vulnerable families.
Finally, amidst the chaos and distractions, Reeves succeeded in conveying a narrative of positive change through her policies.