It’s over for Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, and she knows it. The Chancellor has basically checked out, giving a highly emotional, valedictory interview to the BBC that screams "please don't completely exile me from the cabinet." With Andy Burnham set to take over as Prime Minister in about three weeks, Reeves has clearly realized her frantic lobbying to keep the keys to the economy has failed. Now, she’s playing the humble public servant, leaving her fate to the "prerogative" of the new boss.

When the BBC asked her flat out if she’d take a demotion to some low-tier junior cabinet job just to stay in the room, Reeves dodged the question entirely. It’s a massive comedown for someone who was supposedly running the show. Instead of fighting for her post, she’s already coping, claiming she’s just happy to have served and backing Burnham to the hilt. The transition of power hasn't even officially happened yet, but the desperate scramble for survival in the post-Starmer era is already in full swing.

Speaking of Starmer, the loyalty on display this week was absolutely hilarious. On Monday, while Keir Starmer was standing out in Downing Street delivering his big, sad resignation speech, Reeves was nowhere to be found. She completely ghosted her old boss's final moments to run over to Westminster Hall for a massive photo-op with the new kingmaker, Andy Burnham. When called out on this shameless betrayal, Reeves had no real explanation, offering only the classic line that her loyalty to Starmer was "never in doubt." Sure, Rachel. Nothing says loyalty like skipping the funeral to party with the heir.

To make herself feel better about getting the boot, Reeves tried to claim she’s leaving the economy in a "stronger" state than she found it two years ago. It’s the classic parting gift of every departing politician: claim absolute victory, leave a massive mess for the next person, and walk away. Whether anyone actually buys this defense of her record is a different story, but she’s determined to spin her exit as a triumph.

Under the glorious system of British democracy, the Prime Minister has the absolute power to hire and fire whoever they want. Burnham is about to use that power to sweep away the old guard, and Reeves is first on the chopping block. Her public submissiveness is a desperate attempt to stay in the good graces of the incoming regime, hoping that by playing nice, she might land some mid-level department rather than being sent straight to the backbenches.

This entire episode is a masterclass in political survival and backstabbing. The moment Starmer's ship started sinking, the rats didn't just swim away; they immediately swam to Burnham's yacht and asked for a job. Reeves’ sudden transition from powerful Chancellor to humble follower is proof of how fast the vibes shift in Westminster when a new leader is about to take the crown.