Nigel Farage faced criticism for a staged act during Prime Minister’s Questions. The leader of Reform UK chose to sit in the spectators’ gallery in the House of Commons instead of on the MPs’ benches, expressing dissatisfaction at not being able to participate in the debate.

Accompanied by Brexit supporter Arron Banks, Farage positioned himself as a mere observer, seemingly disregarding the random selection process for MPs to ask questions during PMQs. His absence in parliamentary sessions, often for trips to the US, raised concerns about his commitment to representing his constituents in the chamber.

Following his absence from a PMQs session where Keir Starmer criticized him for disparaging Britain abroad, Farage defended his spectator stance, citing the lack of opportunity to respond to attacks from the Prime Minister and Labour MPs. This move drew further criticism from trade minister Sir Chris Bryant, who highlighted Farage’s tendency to critique without taking responsibility for his own policies.

Critics, including Labour MPs, accused Farage of using Parliament for social media optics rather than fulfilling his elected role. The lack of regular presence in the chamber raised questions about his priorities and engagement with parliamentary duties. Farage’s complaints about not being able to speak during PMQs echoed previous statements, questioning the purpose of his attendance.

The process for selecting MPs to ask questions during PMQs involves a randomized ballot known as the ‘shuffle.’ In addition to the shuffled MPs, the Leader of the official Opposition and the leader of the third largest party also have allocated questions. Farage’s habitual absence and spectator approach drew comparisons to other backbenchers and raised concerns about his engagement in parliamentary proceedings.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats remarked on Farage’s perceived condescension, noting a pattern of looking down on others. Farage’s behavior in seeking attention without active participation in parliamentary activities has been a recurring concern among political observers and fellow MPs.