Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves sat down with BBC host Laura Kuenssberg to discuss Labour’s benefits cuts.

BBC viewers were switching off in droves as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves was interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg – with the conversation quickly spiralling into a row. Speaking about Labour’s decision to cut benefits – including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – Reeves refused to answer Kuenssberg’s questions and was left stammering.

Laura skewered the Labour Chancellor as she said: “You told people you wouldn’t have to make cuts because the economy was going to grow. The economy is stubbornly refusing to do what you’re trying to get it to do, and some of the decisions you’ve made – whacking up [National Insurance] payments for employers are costing businesses, they’re making it harder for them to prosper. And you are, are you not, going to have to announce cuts this week to some government departments?”

Reeves responded: “There will be real terms increases in government spending every year of this Parliament-“ but Laura cut her off with: “That’s the overall, can you confirm you’re going to have to make cuts to some government departments?”

Rachel Reeves BBC

Rachel Reeves had BBC viewers switching off in droves (Image: BBC)

“We’ll set out the spending settlements in June for every department, that’s the spending review-“ Reeves tried again, only to be interrupted with: “That’s not my question. This is what your deputy said earlier this week: ‘We won’t be blindly cutting.’ So can you just be straight with our viewers now, you are going to have to make cuts to some government departments, aren’t you?”

Reeves would only say: “We’re going to invest in the areas that are our priorities.” And her lack of response had BBC viewers switching off as they took to X to share their thoughts.

Laura Kuenssberg Rachel Reeves

Laura Kuenssberg skewered Reeves over her policies (Image: BBC)

One penned: “Literally cannot watch #bbclaurak, can’t bear seeing Rachel Reeves’ flimsy excuses. Turning off!” Another fumed: “Reeves might as well answer the comments by terrified disabled people by saying, ‘yeah, whatever, f*** you’. Face to face assessments are not better, they’re worse because they’re so stressful. What they’re good for is kicking people off benefits for minor infractions.”

Someone else posted: “Aggressive Rachel Reeves is making herself look even worse.” And somebody else posted: “Reeves is making me now feel physically sick.” Another social media user said: “Reeves is toast, isn’t she? Unconvincing and evasive every time she opens her mouth.”