In politics, as in life, it helps to get your excuses in early. That presumably is why, ahead of tomorrow’s Budget, Keir Starmer has mounted a vanguard action in defence of his chancellor Rachel Reeves. ‘I’m acutely aware that women get much more abuse and criticism than men do and I think it’s about time we acknowledge that,’ he told broadcasters over the weekend.

Starmer was responding to earlier complaints from Reeves that she is the victim of patronising – and, even worse, male – armchair critics. ‘I’m sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to me,’ she told the Times , adding in a grumble about those nefarious ‘boys who now write newspaper columns’.

Throwing rocks at stupid boys is a lifelong habit for Reeves, who made much of being the first female chancellor, despite

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