Reeves has only been Chancellor since the summer. (Image: Getty)

       Rachel Reeves only became Chancellor in July, but got off to an awful start, announcing almost immediately that she would seek to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, depriving millions of older people the support they need.

       Her brutal Budget in October, Labour's first in 14 years, sparked further fury, perhaps most notably among farmers. Many were incensed over her decision to cut agricultural relief, sparking large-scale demonstrations in central London backed by the likes of Nigel Farage and Jeremy Clarkson.

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       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

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       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

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       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

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       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

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       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

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       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

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       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

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       Exposed: Rachel Reeves and Sadiq Khan endorsed Just Stop Oil activist's climate report

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       ‘I'm a business owner - Reeves's Budget will cost us more than ￡100,000'

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       Interest rates to fall slower and inflation to rise next year after Labour Budget - report

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       Rachel Reeves doesn't have it in her to deliver vital culture change Britain needs

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       Rachel Reeves' mask just dropped in Budget giveaways that show she's an economic vandal

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       Desperate Vladimir Putin makes major fiscal change as Russian economy crumbles

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       British business gives up as 'self-harming' Labour piles on costs, taxes and red tape

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       Rachel Reeves in humiliating admission over economy as Tories warn of more tax hikes

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       Rachel Reeves humiliated as latest damning charts reveal economic doom

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       Hapless Rachel Reeves has broken UK economy and sent us hurtling to RECESSION

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       Kemi Badenoch blasts Labour for 'crashing the economy' as UK goes on recession alert

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       GDP figures branded ‘extremely worrying' for UK service sector with worst ‘yet to come'

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       Christmas interest rate cut ‘unlikely' despite ‘badly stalling' economy in October

       Comments

       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

       Comments

       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

       Comments

       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

       Comments

       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

       Comments

       Exposed: Rachel Reeves and Sadiq Khan endorsed Just Stop Oil activist's climate report

       Comments

       ‘I'm a business owner - Reeves's Budget will cost us more than ￡100,000'

       Comments

       Interest rates to fall slower and inflation to rise next year after Labour Budget - report

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves doesn't have it in her to deliver vital culture change Britain needs

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask just dropped in Budget giveaways that show she's an economic vandal

       Comments

       Desperate Vladimir Putin makes major fiscal change as Russian economy crumbles

       Comments

       British business gives up as 'self-harming' Labour piles on costs, taxes and red tape

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves in humiliating admission over economy as Tories warn of more tax hikes

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves humiliated as latest damning charts reveal economic doom

       Comments

       Hapless Rachel Reeves has broken UK economy and sent us hurtling to RECESSION

       Comments

       Kemi Badenoch blasts Labour for 'crashing the economy' as UK goes on recession alert

       Comments

       GDP figures branded ‘extremely worrying' for UK service sector with worst ‘yet to come'

       Comments

       Christmas interest rate cut ‘unlikely' despite ‘badly stalling' economy in October

       Comments

       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

       Comments

       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

       Comments

       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

       Comments

       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

       Comments

       In a further blow, Reeves was forced to admit on Friday that new figures showing the UK economy unexpectedly declined were "disappointing".

       The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 0.1% in October, despite most economists expecting it to rise by 0.1%. It's been a torrid few months for Reeves, but is she really the worst chancellor Britain has had, as her critics claim?

       You can have your say on Reeves' handling of the economy so far in our poll below...

       READ MORE: 'Hapless Rachel Reeves breaks economy and sends UK hurtling to RECESSION'

       Responding to ONS figures today, the Chancellor said: "We are determined to deliver economic growth as higher growth means increased living standards for everyone, everywhere. This is what our Plan for Change is all about.

       "While the figures this month are disappointing, we have put in place policies to deliver long-term economic growth.

       "We have put public finances back on a stable footing, capped the rate of corporation tax at the lowest level in the G7, established a ￡70 billion National Wealth Fund to drive growth in our towns and cities, launched a 10-year infrastructure strategy and are creating pension mega funds to boost investment in British businesses, infrastructure and clean energy," she added.

       Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said the figures would be "no surprise to anyone who has been listening to business after Labour’s disastrous budget".

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       if you can't see the above poll, click here.

       The ONS's director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: "The economy contracted slightly in October, with services showing no growth overall and production and construction both falling.

       "Oil and gas extraction, pubs and restaurants and retail all had weak months, partially offset by growth in telecoms, logistics, and legal firms.

       "However, the economy still grew a little over the last three months as a whole."

       The ONS release is just the latest blow for Reeves who has faced bitter opposition to her various cost-saving measures.

       Last month The Telegraph's head of money Ben Wilkinson, said: "At least she can now put ‘Britain’s worst Chancellor’ on her CV," branding her Budget "cruel and needless".

       Long before the Budget, Reeves announced in September that, from winter 2024/2025, households in England and Wales would no longer be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, with only those on Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits continuing to receive it.

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       Labour has claimed the parlous state of the economy left by the former Conservative government meant tough decisions had to be made, pointing to a "￡22billion black-hole" in the nations finances, which the Tories reject.

       But the move sparked anger among many pensioners, with critics warning the policy could exacerbate fuel poverty amid rising energy costs, leaving vulnerable individuals struggling to heat their homes this winter.

       Reeves emphasised her commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, stating, “I am determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners are protected and will still get winter fuel payments, and indeed, to ensure that pension incomes continue to increase with the triple lock.”

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       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

       23 Comments

       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

       55 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

       1012 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

       98 Comments

       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

       112 Comments

       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

       61 Comments

       Exposed: Rachel Reeves and Sadiq Khan endorsed Just Stop Oil activist's climate report

       70 Comments

       ‘I'm a business owner - Reeves's Budget will cost us more than ￡100,000'

       5 Comments

       Interest rates to fall slower and inflation to rise next year after Labour Budget - report

       375 Comments

       Rachel Reeves doesn't have it in her to deliver vital culture change Britain needs

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask just dropped in Budget giveaways that show she's an economic vandal

       43 Comments

       Desperate Vladimir Putin makes major fiscal change as Russian economy crumbles

       46 Comments

       British business gives up as 'self-harming' Labour piles on costs, taxes and red tape

       45 Comments

       Rachel Reeves in humiliating admission over economy as Tories warn of more tax hikes

       727 Comments

       Rachel Reeves humiliated as latest damning charts reveal economic doom

       73 Comments

       Hapless Rachel Reeves has broken UK economy and sent us hurtling to RECESSION

       733 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch blasts Labour for 'crashing the economy' as UK goes on recession alert

       1464 Comments

       GDP figures branded ‘extremely worrying' for UK service sector with worst ‘yet to come'

       2 Comments

       Christmas interest rate cut ‘unlikely' despite ‘badly stalling' economy in October

       1 Comments

       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

       23 Comments

       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

       55 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

       1012 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

       98 Comments

       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

       112 Comments

       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

       61 Comments

       Exposed: Rachel Reeves and Sadiq Khan endorsed Just Stop Oil activist's climate report

       70 Comments

       ‘I'm a business owner - Reeves's Budget will cost us more than ￡100,000'

       5 Comments

       Interest rates to fall slower and inflation to rise next year after Labour Budget - report

       375 Comments

       Rachel Reeves doesn't have it in her to deliver vital culture change Britain needs

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask just dropped in Budget giveaways that show she's an economic vandal

       43 Comments

       Desperate Vladimir Putin makes major fiscal change as Russian economy crumbles

       46 Comments

       British business gives up as 'self-harming' Labour piles on costs, taxes and red tape

       45 Comments

       Rachel Reeves in humiliating admission over economy as Tories warn of more tax hikes

       727 Comments

       Rachel Reeves humiliated as latest damning charts reveal economic doom

       73 Comments

       Hapless Rachel Reeves has broken UK economy and sent us hurtling to RECESSION

       733 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch blasts Labour for 'crashing the economy' as UK goes on recession alert

       1464 Comments

       GDP figures branded ‘extremely worrying' for UK service sector with worst ‘yet to come'

       2 Comments

       Christmas interest rate cut ‘unlikely' despite ‘badly stalling' economy in October

       1 Comments

       Why Rachel Reeves' Budget will fail to deliver on Labour Party's central promise

       23 Comments

       Cheery Rachel Reeves thinks she's weathered the storm - but the worst is still to come

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms

       55 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' mask disintegrates as she shows exactly where she wants UK to be

       1012 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' dead hand economics and how she is digging a hole for herself

       98 Comments

       Rachel Reeves just showed Britain that she is opting for managed decline

       112 Comments

       Mortgage pain for millions as Labour's Budget means interest rates will stay high

       61 Comments

       Sir Keir Starmer also defended the decision to alter winter fuel payments, with the Prime Minister insisting that while it "makes sense," some Budget choices were made reluctantly.

       Reeves acknowledged in an interview with the BBC's Chris Mason just days after the Budget announcement that, "This is not the sort of Budget we would want to repeat," but said the intervention was "needed to wipe the slate clean and to put our public finances on a firm trajectory".