The Reform UK leader said more by walking out than the Prime Minister has managed since he got elected.
Nigel Farage has exposed the sham of PMQs (Image: PA)
In dramatic fashion, Nigel Farage led a mass walkout of Reform MPs on Wednesday following the Prime Minister’s unwillingness or inability to answer a straight question on immigration. Farage asked what Sir Keir Starmer planned to do about illegal immigration as temperatures warm up and small boat crossings are set to accelerate. Nothing, basically was the response. Given the PM’s waffle and deflection – banging on about Farage’s response to the Iran War and the mess Reform inherited from Labour and Tory councils – was it any wonder Farage defied convention and walked out?
Since inaction man Starmer came to office, 70,000 folks have crossed into the UK illegally, including 1,000 in the last week. The flagship one in, one out policy with France has proven an abject failure given so many deportees have snuck back in on lorries.
The policy was already a dud: why are we allowing French President Emmanuel Macron to decide who is or is not a worthy immigrant to our country? Is this what Brexit was for?
Now, in the face of criticism by former Deputy PM – Angela Rayner – about Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reformd, we hear Sir Keir is looking to water down plans to extend the time a foreigner must wait to apply for permanent residency.
For the last two years I have lived in Singapore. From my apartment you can see the beginning islands of Indonesia. If Singapore was as gutless as Labour (or the equally woeful Conservatives) on illegal immigration, the Southeast Asian state would be overwhelmed by Indonesian boats.
Indonesia (and Malaysia) are easily accessible to Singapore, but both Indonesians and Malaysians know if they enter Singapore illegally their feet won’t touch the floor. Why can’t the UK be so efficient in defending its border?
Farage was right to walk out. What is the purpose of Prime Minister’s Questions if the PM won’t answer a damn one? What should worry us all is having to cope with this Labour regime for perhaps another three years.
Will there even be anything to salvage by then?