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Original poster

Rachel Reeves crying in the House of Commons

267 replies

IdaGlossop · 02/07/2025 17:50

AIBU to think it's possible to feel sympathy for Rachel Reeves for being visibly upset at Prime Minister's Question Time today, even if you revile Labour and its policies?

Lots of misogyny on Twitter - the UK is a laughing stock because of the behaviour of menopausal women in the Commons (including an example of Stella Creasy with her baby in a sling asleep and another of Angela Rayner flashing); women can't hack it etc etc.

I can only imagine it must feel dreadful to know the world has watched you in distress and that the financial markets have reacted because of fears of government instability. The phrase 'bring your whole self to work' is a piece of HR speak I can't abide but what we saw today was Rachel Reeves doing just that. Despite my sympathy for her, it would have been better all round for the upset part of her to have stayed in her Downing Street flat.

OP posts:
Fringle · 02/07/2025 20:38

Flamingfeline · 02/07/2025 20:37

I would have liked to have seen someone else go over to her and offer a hanky or a hug. I don’t like her policies (I’m a labour voter and feel very disappointed) but the way that played out in public and on TV, with no support offered, Kemi making fun and some tories smirking, was horrible.

That’s just nonsense. And really foolish.

TwoFeralKids · 02/07/2025 20:37

Fringle · 02/07/2025 20:32

Ooh, ooh nasty Kemi. Grow up FFS.

Labour attacked the Tories relentlessly and personally.

That was line crossed though.

Flamingfeline · 02/07/2025 20:37

I would have liked to have seen someone else go over to her and offer a hanky or a hug. I don’t like her policies (I’m a labour voter and feel very disappointed) but the way that played out in public and on TV, with no support offered, Kemi making fun and some tories smirking, was horrible.

sciaticafanatica · 02/07/2025 20:36

@Bigfatsunandcloudsive no sympathy for someone who has literally gone for the most vulnerable in society.
she is upset because she knows she is on her way out!

Bigfatsunandclouds · 02/07/2025 20:34

It's okay when men get angry on the house of commons - that is emotion. Why isn't it okay for someone to cry. She's a human being, we are emotional and it's absolutely okay to show emotion. I feel very sorry for her and the mobs of angry people hating on labour and trolling her will take its toll on anyone.

EasternStandard · 02/07/2025 20:34

Fringle · 02/07/2025 20:32

Ooh, ooh nasty Kemi. Grow up FFS.

Labour attacked the Tories relentlessly and personally.

Yep plus Starmer at PMQs, a few minutes of that nastiness is enough to switch off.

NaySaidThe · 02/07/2025 20:33

BIossomtoes · 02/07/2025 20:30

If she’d done that the speculation would have been endless. Damned either way.

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Oh come on, She was quite obviously crying because she’s worried for herself. She’s a despicable bully and deserves no sympathy,

Fringle · 02/07/2025 20:32

Ooh, ooh nasty Kemi. Grow up FFS.

Labour attacked the Tories relentlessly and personally.

sciaticafanatica · 02/07/2025 20:32

@Livelovebehappyno I’m not. If it is due to personal reasons then she should have been professional and stayed off camera.
she went for the sympathy vote and it’s back fired.
she can literally cry me a fucking huge river!

BIossomtoes · 02/07/2025 20:30

CircusofPuffins · 02/07/2025 20:22

If it was a personal issue, I don't understand why she didn't duck out - and it would have been more easily explainable. Either say it was personal issues, that she was feeling unwell, etc. Nobody would have batted an eyelid.

But, as the media reaction has proven, trying to carry on in that state was just terrible optics and has probably caused her and the government more problems.

If she’d done that the speculation would have been endless. Damned either way.

allamberedover · 02/07/2025 20:30

If RR hadn't appeared it would have been equally bad optics.
Can you imagine what the press ,Badenoch et al would have made of that?
They would have had a field day.

TwoFeralKids · 02/07/2025 20:30

Act*

TwoFeralKids · 02/07/2025 20:25

Surely you would pretend you didn't see it rather than actually like a school girl in a playground?

CircusofPuffins · 02/07/2025 20:22

If it was a personal issue, I don't understand why she didn't duck out - and it would have been more easily explainable. Either say it was personal issues, that she was feeling unwell, etc. Nobody would have batted an eyelid.

But, as the media reaction has proven, trying to carry on in that state was just terrible optics and has probably caused her and the government more problems.

EasternStandard · 02/07/2025 20:20

Birdsinginginthetrees · 02/07/2025 20:11

She looked like she’d been crying all night.

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Yes she did. It’s likely the party politics.

EasternStandard · 02/07/2025 20:19

Lavendersong · 02/07/2025 20:18

I think Kemi is an absolute bitch for highlighting Rachel’s distress in front of everyone

I thought people wanted to be nicer about politicians. Too many online attacks.

Or is that only Labour ones

Lavendersong · 02/07/2025 20:18

I think Kemi is an absolute bitch for highlighting Rachel’s distress in front of everyone

ViolaPlains · 02/07/2025 20:15

She shouldn’t have been in the Commons in that state. If I was her I’d have resigned and called a press conference and gone for Starmer before he did for me.

Madcats · 02/07/2025 20:15

I am 60. RR is of an age where friends and family start to get ill/die or possibly get ill themselves.

Were I an MP, seeing somebody in such obvious distress, I would like to think that I would have asked her to leave the chamber with me on an urgent matter.

she doesn’t strike me as an “I’ll just cry a lot and people will feel sorry for me” sort of person.

EasternStandard · 02/07/2025 20:14

BIossomtoes · 02/07/2025 20:12

She’ll be telling you to google it in a minute.

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You’ll be telling people off for not googling for you in a minute.

And quoting as ever.

Wisterical · 02/07/2025 20:12

And so she should be.

BIossomtoes · 02/07/2025 20:12

ilovesooty · 02/07/2025 20:01

Oh, thanks so much for letting me know. I don't think I've ever seen seen you offer that little gem before. 🙄

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She’ll be telling you to google it in a minute.

Birdsinginginthetrees · 02/07/2025 20:11

EasternStandard · 02/07/2025 20:04

Yes she’d had a tough emotional night probably. She looked totally spent.

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She looked like she’d been crying all night.

BIossomtoes · 02/07/2025 20:10

wildflowersdontcarewheretheygrow · 02/07/2025 19:33

This
And women full stop. Plays into us 'being emotional' whereas men are called passionate.
If it had been a male politician crying what would have been said.

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Matt Hancock cried when the extent of his callous incompetence was discovered. There was considerably less censure poured on him.

Fringle · 02/07/2025 20:09

ButteredRadish · 02/07/2025 20:07

You’re contradicting yourself here! Massively. In your own words, “leave alone and sympathise!” until you know different. Surely that’s the decent, human approach is it not?

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That’s nonsense. Re-read what you wrote and think about it.

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