Members of the British Parliament belonging to Reform UK marched out of the House of Commons together after a sharp back-and-forth with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Reform leader Nigel Farage made a rare appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, where he demanded the premier admit that his “Smash the Gangs” initiative — aimed at breaking up cartels smuggling illegal immigrants into the United Kingdom — has not manifested results.
“Seventy thousand [migrants arriving via the English Channel] later and 1,000 in the last week, and too many young men that pose a threat to national security — is it not time to admit that ‘Smash the Gangs’ has been a total, abject failure — along with, frankly, most of his other policies?” Farage asked in Parliament.
He continued: “Is it not time he told us — as summer approaches — what is plan B?”
Starmer dodged the question but came out swinging at Farage and his party, calling them an “absolute disgrace.”
“This is from the man and the party that voted against giving law enforcement counterterrorism-style powers to tackle [cartels]. So he wants the grievance, he doesn’t want it sorted,” Starmer told the gathered members of Parliament.
“[Farage] has absolutely no judgment. He again said, ‘Let’s join the war! Let’s all go to war!’” the prime minister continued. “A week later — screeching U-turn, ‘We don’t want to go to war.’ And he says trust his judgment. It’s hard to take anything he says seriously.”
Starmer particularly challenged Farage for his comments on the Worcestershire City Council, a local governing body that Reform secured minority control of in May but found to be “virtually bankrupt.”
The councillors balanced the city budget in February by hiking council taxes by 9% and accepting over $80 million in government support. The tax hike soured public perception due to the party’s promise to cut taxes and spending.
“Worcestershire, I have to say, we took minority control of a virtually bankrupt council, I wish we hadn’t bothered,” Farage complained earlier this month.
It was that comment that Starmer hitched his final attack upon, telling Parliament: “[Farage] asks the people’s votes and then he abandons them. Reform don’t want to solve problems, they only want to exploit them.”
Farage, joined by his fellow Reform members of Parliament, stood and marched out of the House of Commons in protest.
“I see Reform have walked out — they obviously realized they’re absolutely snookered,” Starmer gloated in his following remarks.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice told GB News that Starmer’s response was “ridiculous” and the Prime Minister’s Questions is “becoming a farce.”
“It is a very serious demonstration on behalf of the people about what his plan B strategy is for smashing the gangs,” Tice said. “He is just trying to deflect and distract. It is absurd.”
The debacle was a rare instance of direct confrontation between Starmer and Farage, who only infrequently face each other in the House of Commons.
