BBC Breakfast fans 'switch off' within minutes over 'cruel' Rachel Reeves coverage

BBC Breakfast viewers were changing channels in their droves as the morning programme covered the news that chancellor Rachel Reeves broke down in tears during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday (July 2). The chancellor was seen with tears rolling down her cheeks, but it was claimed to be a "personal matter" - despite the pound plummeting when markets reacted to her emotional display.

Now the BBC has been slammed as "biased" for "digging" into Reeves' personal affairs, after chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman branded her tears "excruciating". He said: "Her team say it was a personal matter, and that was clearly a big part of it. Additionally there was an altercation of sorts with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, just before PMQs where he was complaining about the way she talked to him in the chamber the day before, so that was clearly part of it too."

One disgruntled viewer turned to X to tweet: "It's a personal matter. It's not 'part of it', it's personal. Markets reacted to the thought that Rachel Reeves might step down and rebounded once it was realised she wouldn't. Why is BBC Breakfast digging and digging? Unserious, politically biased journalism at its worst."

Somebody else echoed: "Can't watch honestly, I've switched to GMB for now (not that it's much better)."

Another viewer posted: "Henry Zeffman just referred to the 'peculiar events in the HoC yesterday'. Since when is it acceptable to describe someone in personal distress as 'peculiar'? The media is showing its worst side at the moment."

A different social media user penned: "Shockingly poor analysis from Henry Zefferman on #BBCBreakfast. Labour MPs rebelled against Starmer's plan to cut welfare not his management of the economy. Starmer's MPs haven't considered the consequence for the economy in following this course. Henry showing his personal bias."

Someone else commented on the Reeves drama: "Don't think Rachel Reeves is a great Chancellor but the markets recovered when Downing Street said 'she's here to stay' - so she's safe for the foreseeable future."