Why is everything so difficult for Rachel Reeves?

I watched some of Rachael Reeves’ interviews over the weekend. I have seen many before. One of the recurring themes is that she is not going to hesitate from making ‘the difficult decisions’.

Reeves does not define precisely what these decisions are. That is typical of Labour’s approach to any issue at present. If it cannot prevaricate nothing is ever said.

What is more telling is the continual reference to difficulty.

Is she trying to claim that she is very clever, and so only she can do these things?

Or, alternatively, is she suggesting that she is a normal mortal and that, therefore, what is going to be required of her is hard ? It really is not clear.

Maybe there is, anyway, a third option that I have not thought of, but whichever it is, this perpetual claim is deeply unappealing.

Is she saying that it is hard to decide to underfund the NHS, and so kill people , because that is what it appears that she plans to do?

Alternatively, is it hard to deny people the education that they deserve?

Or the social care that they need?

Or justice for those who have suffered from crime?

Alternatively, is it instead that it is hard to impose significant levels of taxation on those least able to bear it whilst allowing much lower levels of tax on those with the capacity to pay, which is exactly what is happening in the UK present, about which she is refusing to do anything?

Or maybe she is just saying that is it just really difficult to make any decisions when you lack a moral compass, a political philosophy, and any rational explanation for why you seek the power that you so obviously crave?

My suggestion is a simpler one. If you really think that being Chancellor is going to be so difficult that you have to talk about it all the time then you’re not up to the job .

No one pretends that such a role is ever going to be easy. In that case what it requires is that the person willing to undertake it have the confidence to take on the task.

I’m not asking for the self-confidence that tips into arrogant foolishness. We all know the risks in that.

Instead, what is required is that quiet self-confidence that competence delivers.

Rachel Reeves clearly thinks she lacks that because of her perpetual references to the difficulty of the task. It really does make me wonder whether she is fit to undertake it.