POLL: Do you think Rachel Reeves deserved to be heckled by a van driver? | Politics | News
Rachel Reeves gave as good as she got when she was shouted at by a van driver at a petrol station โ but do you think she deserved to be heckled? The Chancellor was giving an interview on the forecourt of the garage in Leeds when she was interrupted by a man driving a truck with two St Georgeโs flags on the roof.
The heckler shouted: โNigel Farage, go on Nigel,โ before telling Ms Reeves: โYouโre ruining the country. Get Keir Starmer out.โ As he left the station, he said out of the window: โIโve got British flags on.
โAm I going to get arrested? Weโve got English flags on here, Rachel, am I going to get arrested? Look at Rachel Reeves there, with a smile on her face.โ
But Ms Reeves fought back, shouting: โI love our country. I love our country, and one of the things about our country is good manners.โ
She said his interruption was โnot very Britishโ.
The incident has divided opinion on social media.
Reform UK leader Mr Farage, who has slapped down plenty of rude hecklers himself at campaign rallies, said: โIโd like to buy this man a pint. Does anyone know how I can find him?โ
The partyโs Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, added: โGood for him. This reaction explains why Reeves rarely leaves her bunker in Westminster.โ
But she was supported by many, including her staunchest opponents, who thought the heckler was rude and that she was right to fight back.
Leading Brexit campaigner Lord Hannan said: โFor once, I am on Rachel Reevesโs side. Civility matters in politics and, if we stop policing the boundaries, things slide very quickly.
โIโm afraid I donโt see it as remotely brave to shout at a woman while you drive away.โ
Ms Reeves was being interviewed about Labourโs decision to delay the fuel duty freeze until the end of the year, following the Iran war and soaring petrol prices.
Rates were previously planned to increase by 1p per litre on September 1, followed by 2p per litre rises on December 1 this year and March 1 next year.
The Conservatives have branded the Chancellorโs latest move a U-turn after the Government did not take any additional steps to help motorists following the start of the conflict on February 28.
Tehranโs restrictions on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz mean the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts has risen by 26p, while diesel has gone up by 44p.
