UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has rejected Opposition Conservative Party suggestions that Britain might need to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), calling such claims "irresponsible."

Reeves was responding to comments made by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who said in a television interview late Monday that she was "very concerned" the UK might have to "bow and scrape" to the IMF for help, similar to when Prime Minister James Callaghan's Labour government borrowed $3.9 billion to support the pound.

"This is not serious, and it is irresponsible," Reeves told the House of Commons on Tuesday. "The only thing that needs rescuing is the Conservative Party from failed leadership."

Reeves accused Badenoch of talking down Britain to seek attention. Last week, Reeves stated that claims of the UK needing IMF assistance were not endorsed by "serious economists." Badenoch cited Britain's persistently high borrowing costs and argued that Keir Starmer's government lacks plans to boost economic growth.