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Sir Keir Starmer has declined to say that chancellor Rachel Reeves will remain in her post until the end of parliament, during a combative Prime Minister’s Questions following Labour’s dramatic gutting of its welfare bill last night.

Reeves, who sat beside Starmer during PMQs on Wednesday, was visibly upset and appeared to shed a tear as the prime minister stopped short of giving her his full backing when asked about her future by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

Starmer, who has previously publicly backed Reeves, said he was “thankful” for the chancellor but the absence of full-throated support will increase speculation that her position is under threat.

Reeves has become a target for rebel anger over Labour’s handling of the welfare reforms.

Badenoch said the chancellor was being used by Starmer as “a human shield for his incompetence”.

This is a developing story