Reported Reeves-Bessent exchange at IMF meetings

Downing Street declined to refute reports of a heated exchange between UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during the International Monetary Fund's spring meetings in Washington DC in April.

The reported confrontation occurred on the sidelines of the gathering, according to accounts of the incident. It stemmed from Reeves' public criticism of the US-led war against Iran prior to her trip. Bessent reportedly berated her over her remarks, prompting Reeves to respond that she did not work for the US Treasury secretary and objected to his tone. She then restated her view that the US entered the conflict without clear goals and had failed to make the world safer.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, questioned on the matter Tuesday, avoided commenting on private conversations but emphasized the positive nature of their ongoing interactions. "The chancellor and the US Treasury secretary have a good relationship," the spokesperson said. "They have had constructive conversations together since the chancellor's visits to Washington. I think there is a readout from the US Department of the Treasury, which made clear the productive nature of their...