Reports of Rachel Reeves’s political demise have been exaggerated, but there’s no doubt that relations are more strained between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor.

Anyone who has been inside the offices on Downing Street will know that there is no physical divide between No 10 and No 11. The houses are knocked through to form one rather constricted space.

Officials, ministers, special advisers can mingle and walk between the PM’s office and the Chancellor’s office with considerable freedom.

This means that any tension and cooling relationship is felt very quickly. Friendly conversations occur less frequently between the two teams. There is more palpable distance, when things start to go wrong.

People are less friendly, more closed. There should, in theory, be a warm collegiate sens

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