BBC Breakfast fury as viewers blast 'car crash' Rachel Reeves interview after 'chummy' and 'soft' questions: 'Absolutely useless!'

The pair were also tasked with putting Ms Reeves on the spot about the impact the government's tax proposals are having on pubs, as well as their latest plans regarding transport in the north.

In what was deemed to be a rather amicable exchange, Ms Nugent began by putting to Ms Reeves: "When will people see a difference in the way that they travel on our trains?"

"In the early 2030s," Ms Reeves replied. "So this is not like decades into the future, and we’re not going to wait until the whole line is built for people to be able to see the benefits.

"We’re learning lessons from things like HS2, which, you know, is a sort of byword for a disastrous project which is massively over budget and where the scope has had to be curtailed because of those cost overruns.

"So we’re dividing this up into three phases. The first is in Yorkshire, better connecting Bradford, Leeds, York, and Sheffield. The next phase is between Manchester and Liverpool, but going via Manchester Airport. It’s good to see Manchester Airport on the telly this morning — and Warrington.

"And then the third phase is between Leeds and Manchester. And the reason that is the third phase is that we are already upgrading the TransPennine route between Leeds and Manchester with more trains, bigger trains, and more frequent service.

"And so we’re choosing to do that bit of the Northern Powerhouse last because we’re already making substantial upgrades.

"But because of the phasing, because of the lessons we’re learning from some of these mistakes of the past, we’re confident that in the early 2030s, people using these services will see improvements."

After letting Ms Reeves go unchallenged on the plans for transport, the presenting pair turned their attention to digital IDs following the government's latest U-turn on their rollout.

Ms Reeves rejected the criticism and attention being given to the scheme. "I do think this story has been a little bit overwritten," she began.

Rather than challenge Ms Reeves on her claim that the digital ID scheme was being "overwritten", Ms Nugent and Mr Kay allowed the Chancellor to continue: "We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK.

"Now, the difference is whether that has to be one piece of ID — a digital ID card — or whether it could be a visa or an e-passport. And we’re pretty relaxed about what form that takes."

Mr Kay did interject at this point to argue: "The Prime Minister wasn’t very relaxed about it when he stood at a lectern only a few weeks ago and said, 'This is absolutely going to happen. It’s really important to have a digital ID that we’re going to introduce — not passports'.

Ms Reeves replied: "No, no, no. But we don’t have digital passports today, as you know. This will be about having digital checks that you have to verify that you can work in the UK.

"There’s a reason for this, because at the moment people are undercut by illegal cheap labour, which drives down wages and standards and conditions for people who do have a right to work in the UK. And we’re going to root that out with these digital checks.

"And we’re consulting — we’re going to be consulting — on what exact form that takes. But I want to be really clear: to work in the UK, you’ve got to be able to prove digitally that you can work in the UK. But we do want to crack down on the illegal smuggling of people into the UK."

Later, when the BBC duo turned towards planned changes to business rates, Ms Reeves gave her retort relatively unchallenged.

"It is always sad when a business closes, especially a much-loved local business. But the business rates haven’t come in yet," she began.

"This is not that rates have gone up and now we’re trying to find a solution. These changes are coming in in April, so we’ve still got time to get this right."

Mr Kay did interject to highlight the need businesses have to plan ahead of time, but Ms Reeves plowed on: "Right, yeah — and people know that there is additional support coming.

"We’ve already put in £4.3 billion, so we weren’t immune to these challenges. But a lot of extra money went in to support businesses during the pandemic — rightly so. It’s not affordable to keep that temporary relief forever.

"It is good now that pubs and restaurants and bars and shops are open properly again, and so, of course, that temporary support does need to be unwound. But we’re going to do that at a pace that helps businesses."

"When will you make that announcement?" Mr Kay asked. Ms Reeves responded: "We’ll make that announcement in the next few days and weeks, and we’re working very closely with the hospitality sector, particularly with the pub industry, to get this right.

"You’ve got to find a balance. Everyone knows that the government is still borrowing too much. We are bringing down those levels of borrowing every year during the course of this parliament, because if you’re borrowing money, it just means that taxes are being paid for someone else to support something else.

"So we’re trying to bring down that borrowing level. That’s what has meant that inflation and interest rates are starting to come down. But we want to support our pubs, we want to support our high streets, and we’re doing that."

As the discussion drew to a close, the conversation turned towards how Ms Reeves unwinds away from the world of politics.

'We want to support our pubs'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves told #BBCBreakfast she is still working on planned changes to business rates, amid warning of significant rises for pubs and other hospitality businesseshttps://t.co/duG55o4mnt pic.twitter.com/ihqVu2b7ZQ

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) January 14, 2026

The panel shared a laugh over what board games Ms Reeves and her family play at home, with the Chancellor admitting "chess is my favourite board game" and that she's often beaten by her daughter when they play Monopoly.

Clips of the interview soon made their way onto social media, where X users, in particular, voiced their disappointment at the manner in which the interview was conducted.

Reacting to the discussion, one viewer raged: "@BBCBreakfast showing the nation how inept its presenters are at interviewing the chancellor, who is single-handedly ruining the nation! Absolutely useless interviewing, they aren’t informed enough or smart enough to challenge her - she is lying (and) borrowing so much."

A second also took aim at the BBC pair: "Terrible interviewing! Letting her ramble on and not answer ANY questions directly. Then beggars belief- ends with discussing her favourite board games!"

"P**s weak interviewers being railroaded into a cosy chat about Monopoly and, of course, Chess. No wonder she went on there," a third slammed, while a fourth weighed in: "What a blundering interview from someone who had no answers and no clue how the country works. She needs to go now."

Elsewhere, Ms Nugent and Mr Kay came under fire again: "These two ‘presenters’ could not be more useless. Badly prepared, unable to force home their point, far too chummy altogether."

"So happy that @RachelReevesMP refuses to go on GBNews, stick to BBC dear, it's the sort of channel that deserves you," a fan of the People's Channel hit out.

And a seventh weighed in: "That was a car crash for her. At least Angela Rayner knew she wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer and played to that. This one is the chancellor and has no understanding of the issues her policies are causing businesses."

"Awful interviewing! Subservient almost to the point of grovelling! Were they told 'go easy on her or she'll cry again'? Looked like it! Golden opportunity to hold Reeves to account for this latest U-turn and they chose not to take it! Waste of time and space!" another commented. (sic)

While a further viewer pointed out Ms Reeves' decision to avoid other news outlets: "She is enjoying an interview with friends and supporters. Will avoid interviews with real news outlets and proper journalists. The license fee is a support for the Labour party." (sic)