Farage appears in Commons gallery as ‘mere spectator’ at PMQs
Nigel Farage took to a side gallery for this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), instead of his usual seat next to other Reform UK MPs, claiming he is a “mere spectator”.
The Clacton MP sat above the Labour benches with Reform backer Arron Banks.
“Every week at PMQs I am attacked by the PM and Labour MPs, but have no right of reply,” the Reform UK leader wrote on X.
“I am just a mere spectator.
“So I have decided to spectate from the public gallery today instead.”
‘Just saying’
Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, Chris Bryant, later published a post to X saying: “Incidentally you can be called as an MP from the gallery.
“Not often used but you can. Just saying.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer takes questions from MPs for around half-an-hour each Wednesday.
MPs who want to ask a question, alongside the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders Kemi Badenoch and Sir Ed Davey, can enter a ballot for one of 15 slots, in a random selection sometimes known as “the shuffle”.
Mr Farage last week complained on social media that he heard “yet another” set of exchanges where he was “mentioned but can’t respond”.
Putin
He added at the time: “There is not much point me even being there.”
It followed Sir Keir’s claim that he and Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice had “worked alongside someone who took money to spread Putin’s propaganda”.
The Prime Minister said: “Whatever their denials, they have serious questions to answer about what they knew.
“But that is the choice – Kremlin cronies sewing division or Labour patriots working for national renewal.”
House of Commons cameras showed Mr Farage laughing whilst the Prime Minister made the comments.
Last month, Reform UK’s former leader in Wales Nathan Gill, 52, of Anglesey, admitted taking bribes in return for statements in favour of Vladimir Putin’s Russia while he was a Member of the European Parliament.
His activities were said to include making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets.
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Someone’s being a bit of grumpy sourpuss.
More embarrassing attention seeking nonsense from Kermit. They call themselves Reform how about reforming the House of Frauds by abolishing it? But he won’t do that will he because too many of his mates are in there
If the devil could cast his net, must be nice to know you cost the rest of us billions every year…RIP Jo Cox
Attention seeking with Aron Banks eh?
Really needs to be seen.
https://www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gill-nigel-farage-bribes-oleh-voloshyn-nadia-sass-borodi-moscow-kyiv-strasbourg
The Fat Shanks/Rees-Mogg Effect; taking the pass out of Parliament…
Is there precedent for this? He is an MP. He’s on the pitch not on the bench. Derogation of duty, not only in the countless times he was absent but even today when he was present. Cowardice on display with some overplayed explanation proving his wrongdoing as he goes. Most MPs don’t ask questions nor get to give their views at PMQs but they don’t complain about having no right of reply. Bear in mind that Badenough personally attacked Jess Phillips today and despite the fact that the speaker pulled her up on it, no right of reply was afforded… Read more »
So true.
As I’ve labelled him in previous posts, ” the MP for Washington Central”.
MP for Moscow central as well.
As was pointed out by a Welsh Labour MP, he could be called from the stands. In effect he was present for duty. What he was doing was making a political statement… to great effect, after all he got himself an article in Nation.cymru.
Policies aside, he knows how to play politics it seems.
“no right of reply” the Reform UK leader wrote on X, thus replying.
Snowflake not getting enough attention?
Sorry but can you please stop commenting because I’m being ordered to listen to permanently yakking Nige and you’re distracting me. 🤣
Please accept my Fanny’s apologies.
She’s going to give it a rest for now and concentrate on her forthcoming cookery book, “ A Taste of Fanny”,
Another patronising condensing chauvinistic comment designed to subjugate women to the kitchen. Those making these comments are best off dunking their heads in a toilet.
Farage had better get used to intense scrutiny. Being a populist party and gaining votes from the misery of others may be all well and good if not in power but once power is on the horizon or gained – they’ll have to have answers to the scrutiny and proper policies. Reform struggles with all of this.
If you are subject to intense scrutiny by media organizations, they typically reach out for a request for comment. If you are subject to intense scrutiny by the house of commons, you are either in front of a committee answering questions or at the table answering question from MPs.
What’s happening here is not intense scrutiny, it’s frankly childish bickering. Don’t even like the guy, or his policies but if you’re going to mention him and debate his policies or his actions, at least give the guy a chance to stand up and speak.
I’m guessing the side gallery was nearer the bar and reduced the need for doing any actual Parliamentary work.
To be fair, if you are the subject of political football while you’re sat there in the chamber, I feel it is only right that the individual should have a right to comment and to clarify whether everything is correct or not. This should apply to every MP sitting in the house of commons. I’d be pretty ticked myself if I was sat there and they were throwing accusations of things I was supposed to have said (but probably never did) or taking my comments out of context, or perhaps even saying something is false when there’s factual evidence to… Read more »
;
‘ I feel it is only right that the individual should have a right to comment and to clarify whether everything is correct or not.
This should apply to every MP sitting in the house of commons.’
I think it very unlikely that Farage would agree with you should we ever find that it’s him standing at a despatch box.