Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves had a hard time at the FTWeekend Festival on Saturday. In a panel about Labour’s plans, hack Robert Shrimsley joked that Reeves’s pledge not to bring in a wealth tax would win over the rich Financial Times reading audience. Then two hecklers from the Green New Deal Rising group started a protest with a “tax wealth now” banner. Reeves’ stance on tax has earned some odd admirers — this weekend, Right-wing US senator Chuck Grassley praised her as “Reagan-esque”.
She got a hard time from the FT crowd. When Shrimsley asked why Labour had become pro-Brexit, the EU-loving audience burst into jeers. Reeves countered that her Leeds constituents have a different view. She may want to check her facts: Leeds voted, narrowly, to Remain.
