Farage and Reform MPs storm out of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions
Nigel Farage led a mass exit of Reform MPs at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions following an answer from Sir Keir Starmer.
During a particularly raucous session in the House of Commons this afternoon, the Reform leader had the opportunity to needle the PM on illegal migration.
He asked: ‘Is it not time to admit “smash the gangs” has been a total abject failure – along, frankly, with most of his other policies?
‘Isn’t it now time he told us, as summer approaches, what is plan B?’
With campaigns getting underway ahead of May’s crucial local elections – widely expected to be painful for Labour and a boost for Reform – Starmer took the excuse to get some digs in.
But after he chastised Farage for voting against giving law enforcement counter-terrorism powers to tackle illegal migration, for his early stance on the war in Iran, and for council taxes rising in Reform-run areas, the MPs did not stick around for more.
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As Labour MP Marie Tidball began delivering her question, they began to shuffle out – much to the delight of others in the chamber, who waved them goodbye.
Farage and his deputy leader Richard Tice were first to leave, with ex-Tories Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Danny Kruger appearing to take some encouragement to join them.
On his way out, Jenrick wore a look of disdain and waved his hand dismissively towards the MPs cheering him on.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan, who is aligned with Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party, mockingly pretended he was getting up to leave with them.
Once the scenes had calmed down in the Commons, the PMQs session continued with a very conspicuous gap in the backbenches.
Even before Farage stood up to ask his question, the PM had found an opportunity to have a dig at him.
When finishing off an answer to a Labour MP, Starmer said there was ‘only one party leader who has shown he will say anything, no matter how divisive, if he’s paid to do so’ – a reference to controversy over the Reform leader’s videos on Cameo.
The comment was immediately followed by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle calling out Farage’s name.
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