Keir Starmer delivered a brutal swipe at Nigel Farage during PMQs over reports that Reform UK had been in talks with Liz Truss in recent weeks
Nigel Farage has been brutally mocked over reports he’s linked up with wrecking ball former PM Liz Truss.
Keir Starmer took a swipe at the Reform UK leader after claims his party has been in talks with the 49-day premier. It comes after reports that Ms Truss has met key party figures to discuss taking on “the establishment”.
The PM was met by loud cheers as he referenced Mr Farage’s enthusiastic support from Ms Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget, which piled misery on millions of voters. Referencing the reported talks, the PM said: “Now we hear Mr Speaker that he has recruited Liz Truss as his new top advisor as he was cheering on the mini-Budget.”
The fiery attack at PMQs comes the day before millions of voters go to the polls in local elections. Mr Starmer told MPs that voting for Reform would lead to a “pro-Putin foreign policy” and charging for the NHS.
Earlier this month it was reported that Ms Truss had given Reform officials advice on how to overhaul the state. A source told The Times: “It’s not just a case of thinking about policy, it’s about working through delivery in the face of institutional resistance.”
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The exchange came after Mr Farage hit out over the number of small boat crossings. The divisive Reform leader claimed many were “coming from cultures that are somewhat alien to ours”.
He said the cost of accommodation is causing “deep resentment” and called for it to be declared a “national emergency”. Mr Starmer pointed out that Reform had voted against the Government’s plans to tackle the crisis.
The PM told the Commons: “We are passing a Borders Bill with extensive powers to smash the gangs. These are terrorist-like powers which give powers to the police to to intercept where they think the suspects are committing people smuggling, which is a vile trade.
“We must take back control of our borders after the last Government lost control. But what did he and his party do? Did they support these extra measures? No they went in the lobby with this lot (the Tories) in their new coalition to vote against them.”
And he went on: “Let’s be clear what a vote for this party means. It means a vote to charge for the NHS, it means a pro-Putin foreign policy, and a vote against voters’ rights.”
A total of 1,641 council seats are up for grabs across 23 local authorities while four regional mayors and two local mayors will also be elected. A key by-election is also taking place to choose a new MP for the constituency of Runcorn & Helsby after the ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury resigned following a conviction for assault.
The contest is being closely fought between Labour and Mr Farage’s right-wing party, which is hoping for a major upset in the constituency.
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