Rachel Reeves branded Queen of Thieves as fury grows over pay deals and pension cuts

Rachel Reeves is facing a storm of criticism after being accused of caving in to unions just weeks into her time as Chancellor. Critics say her first big moves have shown she is willing to bow to strike threats, handing out pay rises while cutting support for pensioners.

First came junior doctors, who secured a 22% pay rise but are already warning they will be back next year demanding more. Now train drivers, already among the best paid in the public sector, are set to see salaries jump from £60,000 to £69,000. With overtime, many could be taking home £100,000 a year for a four-day week with no Sunday shifts, reported the Express.

To help fund this, Reeves has stripped pensioners of their £300 winter fuel allowance, despite predictions energy bills will rise by 10% this winter. Critics say it betrays Labour’s promise to look after the most vulnerable, accusing the Government of prioritising union paymasters who brought Britain to a standstill during months of strikes.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has also come under fire after promising to work closely with Aslef boss Mick Whelan. She insisted: “This government is putting passengers first.” But opponents say passengers will be the ones paying higher fares, while union bosses celebrate record pay deals.

Reeves’s approach has been likened to Labour’s policies of the 1970s, when soaring public sector pay demands triggered wage wars between unions. That period ended with inflation peaking at 25% and the economy in crisis. Critics warn the same mistakes are being repeated, with Reeves accused of handing unions the power to demand whatever they want.

Her claim that “strikes cost more than settling” has sparked outrage, with opponents saying it effectively gives every union the green light to threaten walkouts until they get what they want. Already GPs, teachers, bus drivers and lorry drivers are expected to push for their own rises, knowing the Chancellor has set a precedent.

Concerns are also growing about how Labour will pay for these increases. Reeves has repeatedly spoken of a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, though opponents argue it is being exaggerated to justify future tax rises. The criticism comes as new figures show the UK economy is in stronger shape than Labour has admitted, with GDP growth at its highest in seven years, inflation down to 2% and forecasts of a Bank of England rate cut next month. Even Deutsche Bank described the UK stock market as “remarkable.”

Opponents say Reeves is guilty of talking Britain down on the world stage, painting the country as an “economic basket case” when recent data shows the opposite. They accuse her of misleading the public, of weakening the UK’s reputation abroad, and of selling out ordinary voters in favour of powerful unions.

One furious critic branded her “Rachel Reeves, Queen of Thieves,” saying she has treated the electorate like fools while making herself look ridiculous with doom-laden predictions that don’t match reality.