A body language expert has said that Rachel Reeves tried to channel Margaret Thatcher as she unveiled her Budget. The way she spoke from the Despatch Box in the House of Commons seemed to emulate the former Conservative prime minister, Judi James told The Express. “Her ‘intentional’ or ‘announcement’ gestural display as she rose to perform risked being scuppered by the kerfuffle over the leaks and the consequent roasting from the deputy speaker,” she said.
“She still managed to rise from her seat like Boadicea, although the look from the steps of No. 11 [Downing Street] earlier, where her cheeks were rounded with personal pride and her pursed-lip, smug smile suggested disdainful resilience, was heavily diluted and her trait of over-straightening her notes on the lectern did again suggest inner anxiety and a desire to regain control.”
However, “once she got into her stride though she seemed to channel Margaret Thatcher in her
shouting, sneering and victorious style of delivery”, Ms James observed.
She added: “You almost expected her tie-neck blouse to re-tie itself into a pussy cat bow in the signature style of the Conservative PM.
“Starmer sat behind her, his entire face wreathed in creases of what looked like confusion and anxiety and at one point, when Reeves reached peak-shouting and scorching of the opposite benches, he was one looking up at her in and expression of alarm.”
The Chancellor also seemed to copy another former premier, the specilist suggested.
Ms James said: “Reeves looked determined to stamp her personal authority on this speech and on her approach to the opposition, so much so that she looked as though she might be throwing her own hat into the ring as the next inhabitant of No 10.
“There was a sweeping arm as she ridiculed the Tories and even a floppy-looking thumb of power gesture in the style of Tony Blair.
“She shouted and sneered relentlessly with only one sip of water towards the end.
“Yvette Cooper spoke for many of the back-benchers with her immobile, poker face vacant stare and Dianne Abbot appeared to be made out of stone. Miliband attempted a variety of expressions from a begrudging nod to a chin-rub of evaluation, and Reeves was ‘congratulated’ by one of Starmer’s hand-on-the-shoulder clasps to imply a slightly patronising-looking look of watery pride.”
Ms Reeves’s challenge today was to “display the kind of congruent body language performance that would radiate total
confidence in her message but also total confidence in herself”, Ms James suggested.
She added that her “non-verbal signals thought PMQs did not look promising”.
“Her choice of a bottle green suit and beige blouse was uninspired in terms of powering up her image,” the expert said.
“Both colours are draining, as is the Commons lighting, making her look less confident and less inspirational that she did in the fiery red shirt and lipstick she wore for her videoed speech.
“She sat whey-faced, clutching her notes tensely or fiddling with her pen while a licking of her lips hinted at high levels of anxiety.”