Nigel Farage faced criticism for his absence in asking questions during the weekly PMQs session for the past three months. The leader of Reform UK made a theatrical entrance to the public gallery during this week’s PMQs, expressing frustration at being targeted by the Prime Minister and Labour MPs without the opportunity to respond.
Farage stated that he felt like a mere spectator at PMQs, constantly under attack without the chance to engage. However, it was revealed that he had not requested a question, which is why he had not been called upon. As the leader of a minor party, Farage receives questions on a rotation basis along with other small parties such as the Greens and Plaid Cymru.
While he is allocated questions as a party leader, he also has the option to enter his name into the lottery system, known as the “shuffle,” to be selected for a question each week. Records from Parliament showed that Farage last participated in the shuffle before the PMQs session on July 9th, missing potential opportunities in the following five sessions.
Fifteen MPs are chosen weekly through the shuffle, including party leaders like Farage, Kemi Badenoch, and Ed Davey. Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dem chief whip, criticized Farage for not fulfilling his duties and choosing to play the victim instead. Reform UK claimed that Farage was not scheduled for a “minor party” question until November and had only received six questions this year.
The number of times Farage applied for the shuffle before July remains unclear.