Chancellor Rachel Reeves exhibited visible signs of anxiety and unease during Prime Minister's Questions this week, as Sir Keir Starmer defended his Government's record. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman observed that Ms Reeves appeared fidgety and anxious 'even before a word was spoken' at Wednesday lunchtime.
Body Language Analysis Reveals Signs of Distress
Ms Honigman, speaking exclusively to Casino, noted that as the Prime Minister stood to speak, Ms Reeves was seen adjusting her necklace behind him. 'We see her glancing deeply downwards, which is a blocking gesture, as if she's trying to separate herself from the scene, using her eyelids as shields and protecting herself,' the expert explained.
According to Ms Honigman, the Chancellor's downward glances indicated she was 'interested in her own thoughts, not the conversation around her.' She added: 'While her eyes are lowered, Reeves's chin is lowered, as are the corners of her mouth. The whole face is dropped, doleful, showing that she's worried and lacks the energy to smile.'
At times, Ms Reeves raised her cheeks, but her eyes and lips remained sad. 'Raised cheeks are common in a smile, but when a sad face is paired with raised cheeks, this is an unsuccessful attempt to look a little less downhearted,' Ms Honigman said.
Political Uncertainty Looms
The Chancellor faces an uncertain future after Sir Keir announced his resignation earlier this week. Likely successor Andy Burnham is reportedly considering demoting her to a more junior Cabinet role. During PMQs, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested Ms Reeves had let Sir Keir down, claiming he wouldn't have been forced to quit if she had 'found money for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).'
Despite the speculation, Ms Reeves publicly backed Mr Burnham in a BBC interview on Thursday. 'I'm not going to pre-empt the decisions that the new prime minister will make. I'm backing Andy. I think he'd be a great prime minister, but those are his decisions, not mine to make,' she said.
Ms Reeves also defended her record, stating: 'I've been by his side for six years now as shadow chancellor and then as Chancellor of the Exchequer. I know that whoever is prime minister and chancellor in the future will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago.'
