Exclusive:Rachel Reeves thanks MPs for Commons interventions in 'charm offensive'

Rachel Reeves personally thanked individual Labour MPs for their interventions in the Commons in what has been dubbed a “charm offensive”.

The Chancellor messaged her gratitude to party colleagues after a Treasury Questions session in the chamber.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to step down as Prime Minister after his top aide Morgan McSweeney quit on Sunday.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor / Treasury.

The Chancellor and Prime Minister’s fates are seen being intertwined.

Ms Reeves personally messaged multiple Labour MPs to thank them for their contributions after she took questions in the Commons at the end of January.

Labour sources said it stood out because it was unusual for such a senior cabinet minister to reach out to backbench MPs.

One source said: “You don’t often hear of Chancellors thanking individual backbenchers by ringing them up. Normally recognition is kept very general, so it stood out.

“Some MPs send thank you notes in the internal post, but when the Chancellor WhatsApps you and then follows-up in the voting lobby, it’s such a tone shift.”

Another added: "It felt like a nice touch but also seemed to be a charm offensive."

It comes as the Prime Minister is to face his MPs at the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday evening.

The Scottish Labour MPs have been invited to No11 Downing St for a meeting with the Chancellor afterwards.

They also have a meeting in No10 on Tuesday to discuss May’s election.

Sir Keir‘s future is in doubt after Mr McSweeney’s resignation.

The former Downing St Chief of Staff - who is married to Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley Imogen Walker - stood down on Sunday after admitting he had advised the PM to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

Brian Leishman - the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth - said Sir Keir should follow Mr McSweeney out of No10.

It is likely that the Chancellor would also lose her job if the Prime Minister was to go.

A source close to Ms Reeves said she has done this regularly since becoming Chancellor and it is not new.