Keir Starmer delivered a sharp putdown to Nigel Farage at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) after the Reform UK leader attempted to question him about cuts to the winter fuel allowance and the costs of the Chagos Islands deal. The tense exchange turned chaotic as Farage was left stunned by Starmer’s quick-witted response.
Farage, addressing the Prime Minister, asked for advice on what to tell his 25,000 constituents in Clacton about the winter fuel allowance cuts and other political issues, including the ongoing Chagos Islands situation. But rather than engage directly with the questions, Starmer fired back with a biting remark about Farage’s frequent absences from the UK, especially in light of his well-documented connections to the US, according to the Mirror.
“What he should say to the people of Clacton when he finally finds Clacton, is that they should vote Labor,” Starmer quipped, drawing laughter from the House. The barb alluded to Farage’s perceived obsession with American politics and his regular visits to the US, implying that Farage was more focused on foreign matters than the issues facing his own constituents.
The exchange occurred amidst increasingly heated scenes in the House, as Farage had previously faced a barrage of heckles from Labor MPs. This followed his attempt to defend his party against claims that Reform UK wants to implement an insurance-based system for the NHS, with Labor MPs loudly dismissing his assurances as “nonsense” and “U-turns.” The Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle, had to intervene twice to restore order as MPs roared with laughter and chaos ensued.
Farage, undeterred by the interruptions, retorted that the Labor MPs’ shouts were a sign of “panic,” claiming that Reform UK was surging in popularity according to recent polls. But when he finally got around to asking his question about the winter fuel allowance cuts, Farage referenced a constituent, 99-year-old Jim O’Dwyer, a former Lancaster bomber crew member, who he claimed was losing out on fuel support while the government considered paying £18 billion for a military base.
Starmer seized the opportunity to respond by turning the tables on Farage’s party policies. “He talks of panic, the only panic is people using the NHS who know that under his policy he wants to charge them for using the NHS,” Starmer said. The Prime Minister’s response emphasized that Labor was committed to stabilizing the economy and, with a final jibe, encouraged Clacton residents to vote for Labor when Farage “finally finds Clacton.”
The exchange, marked by humor and sharp criticism, illustrated the growing political tension between the two figures, with Starmer managing to outmaneuver Farage at his own game during the raucous PMQs session.
