Nigel Farage has staged a shock protest at Prime Minister’s Questions in a furious response to weekly anti-Reform UK barbs from Sir Keir Starmer and Labour MPs.
The Reform UK leader confirmed he was watching this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions from the public gallery.
As Sir Keir rose to his feet, Mr Farage said on social media: “Every week at PMQs, I am attacked by the PM and Labour MPs, but have no right of reply.
“I am just a mere spectator. So I have decided to spectate from the public gallery today instead.”
Speaking to GB News after the Prime Minister’s grooming gangs grilling, Mr Farage added that he is no longer planning to sit in the chamber for the weekly despatch box showdown.
“I shall listen to Prime Minister’s Questions from the gallery in the future,” Mr Farage said.
“There is no point in being there. I am on strike. I will continue until I get a question.”
Mr Farage was yet again attacked by Sir Keir, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs at PMQs this week.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons
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Sir Ed’s swipe at the Reform UK leader centred around the “damage” done by Britain’s departure from the European Union.
The Liberal Democrat leader was caught gazing up at Mr Farage from the public gallery, with MPs pointing up at the Clacton MP.
Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor’s Labour MP Alan Strickland took aim at Reform UK councillors in Durham.
Sir Keir replied by bringing up ex-Brexit Party MEP Nathan Gill’s bribery conviction and blasted Kent County Council over its recent fiasco.
Mr Farage was yet again attacked by Sir Keir, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs at PMQs this week
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However, due to convention, the Clacton MP was not allowed to reply.
Mr Farage, who has asked just six questions since being elected last July, complained: “It is not fair.”
While Mr Farage’s allies voiced support for the boycott, Home Office Minister Mike Tapp labelled the Clacton MP a “snowflake”.
Labour MP Graeme Downie added: “Like any bully, he can dish it out but can’t take it. What a wimp.”
Despite Mr Farage riding high in the opinion polls, the Reform UK leader is not expected to rise to his feet at Prime Minister’s Questions until mid-November.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has asked 200 questions and Sir Ed rose to his feet on another 70 occasions.
Nigel Farage will not attend PMQs in the chamber until he is next called to his feet
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However, if the questions were allocated to reflect current opinion polls, Mr Farage would have asked 120 since being elected to the House of Commons in July 2024.
The national grooming gangs inquiry dominated the early stages of today’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
Sir Keir rejected Mrs Badenoch’s call for Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips to face the sack.
The Tory leader also said that the Prime Minister should “hang his head in shame”, adding: “What we need to think about right now is the victims, the survivors.”
Kemi Badenoch grilled Sir Keir Starmer over Pakistani rape gangs
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Despite Sir Ed putting pressure on Sir Keir over Prince Andrew, Liberal Democrat MPs this morning faced fury after it emerged they had tipped off No10 about their questions in advance.
Rutland & Stamford MP Alicia Kearns said: “Extraordinary. Labour MPs to be submitting word-for-word what they’re going to ask the Prime Minister is one thing, but Liberal Democrat MPs doing it too?
“Opposition who? I have never submitted a written question in advance to a Prime Minister.”
Tory peer Lord Jackson added: “Liberal Democrats colluding with Labour at PMQs. Who’d have thought it? Shocked, I am.”
Richard Tice, Lee Anderson, Sarah Pochin and Danny Kruger attended PMQs in the chamber
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However, Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage made light of the matter.
She said: “I regret to inform the House that yesterday there was a very, very, serious breach of national security, when my PMQ was photographed heading into No10 through a transparent folder.
“However, the nation can rest easy, on this occasion, no state secrets were revealed.”
The Liberal Democrats have refused to rule out a coalition with Labour after the next General Election.
