As Sir Keir Starmer approached the first anniversary of his general election victory, the indelible image this week was of a prime minister failing to fully back his chancellor Rachel Reeves, tears rolling down her cheeks, her welfare reform plans in tatters.

By our own metrics, the government is not thriving. Waiting times at emergency ( A&E) wards may be falling, but at a glacial pace. The number of migrants crossing in small boats has risen by 38% over the past year. Housebuilding is moribund and crime incidents, although relatively low, have increased by 10%.

Sir Keir Starmer has sought to calm the markets and end speculation about Rachel Reeves' future after the chancellor was seen crying in the House of Commons. The pound plummeted and government borrowing costs rose after the incident at prime minister's questions on Wednesday,

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that financial minister Rachel Reeves would remain chancellor "for a very long time to come" after she was seen crying during prime minister's questions.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s aides scrambled to express support for Rachel Reeves after his chancellor’s tearful appearance in the House of Commons spurred a UK market selloff amid speculation about her future.