Nigel Farage faced criticism for his absence from asking questions during the weekly PMQs session for the past three months. The leader of Reform UK made a dramatic appearance in the public gallery at this week’s PMQs, expressing frustration at being targeted by the Prime Minister and Labour MPs without the opportunity to respond.
Farage explained his decision, stating that he felt like a mere spectator as he is consistently attacked but not given a chance to reply during PMQs. However, it was revealed that he had not requested a question, which is why he had not been called upon. As a leader of a minor party, Farage’s questions are assigned to him in rotation along with other small parties such as the Greens and Plaid Cymru.
While Farage is entitled to enter his name into the lottery system, known as the “shuffle,” to be selected for a question at PMQs, records indicate that he last participated in the shuffle on 9th July. Since then, there have been five PMQs sessions, all of which he could have potentially had a question in.
Each week, 15 MPs are selected through the “shuffle,” including party leaders like Farage, Kemi Badenoch, and Ed Davey. In response to Farage’s actions, Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain criticized him for playing the victim instead of fulfilling his responsibilities, suggesting that the people of Clacton may have questions for him.
Reform UK has raised concerns that Farage will not be eligible for a “minor party” question until November and has only been granted six questions this year. The exact number of times Farage applied for the shuffle before July remains unclear.