Kemi Badenoch should read Ovid. She, not Reeves, was a crying shame
“It is a relief to weep; grief is satisfied and carried off by tears,” the Roman poet Ovid said back in the Augustan age.
It’s a wise observation, but of course the Augustan age was rather more glorious than 21st century Britain.
The British media may not be greatly impressed by Ovid’s words, transfixed as it is by the troubling sight of tears rolling down the face of Rachel Reeves, the country’s chancellor or finance minister. Ms Reeves was seated in the House of Commons next to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Labour government having just suffered a parliamentary bollocking by its own side when it tried to save money by instituting welfare-spending cuts. (Incidentally, it’s not clear why Ms Reeves was distressed. There is a suggestion it was a “personal matter”.)
I’ll tell you someone else who won’t be impressed by Ovid’s views on crying. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party and therefore chief of Britain’s official opposition. Ms Badenoch appears to pride herself on being tough as old boots and just about as cuddly and empathetic. Seeing Ms Reeves’ tearfulness, she jumped up and down, seemingly in delight. “She looks absolutely miserable,” Ms Badenoch taunted, repeating the jab for emphasis.
If anything, it was Ms Badenoch who was a crying shame and not Ms Reeves, who has a tough job balancing the budget, trying to trigger growth in a sclerotic Britain and satisfy unreasonable expectations that revolve around low taxes and high public services.
Ms Badenoch’s bullying and insensitive behaviour – towards a fellow parliamentarian, fellow politician, another woman, another human being, for god’s sakes – is enough to bring us to tears.
