Whilst I ‘get’ Reeves on this occasion, I wish she was as firm with Labours back benches….
US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent had a fierce row with UK chancellor Rachel Reeves in Washington last month over her outspoken criticism of the Iran war, according to people familiar with the matter. The chancellor, who was in Washington for the spring meetings of the IMF, gave an interview to CNBC on April 15 claiming the goals of the Iran war had “never been clear”. Reeves expressed the view that she was “not convinced” that “we are safer today than we were a few weeks ago”, prompting furious criticism from Bessent. When the pair met later that day Bessent berated Reeves over the remarks, according to people familiar with the situation. The Treasury secretary insisted the world was safer because of the US-Israeli war against Iran, even invoking the spectre of Tehran launching a nuclear attack on London. Reeves responded angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her.