Chancellor Rachel Reeves rebuked a foul-mouthed heckler during a broadcast interview at a Leeds petrol station, telling him that good manners are part of being British. The man, who appeared to be a Reform UK supporter, shouted abuse from his van, including calls to remove Prime Minister Keir Starmer and support for Nigel Farage.
Reeves responded: 'I love our country, and one of the things about our country is good manners. Not very British.' She then joked that he might have missed her announcement about freezing fuel duty.
The incident drew support from Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride, who said Reeves was right about civility in politics. Tory peer Daniel Hannan also backed her, stating that civility matters and that shouting at a woman while driving away is not brave.
However, Reform UK politicians criticised Reeves. Nigel Farage posted on X that he would like to buy the man a pint, while Robert Jenrick said the heckler 'sounds British to me'. Zia Yusuf offered the man a future peerage for 'outstanding public service'.
