Keir Starmer opened the first Prime Minister’s Questions of 2026 with a pointed jab at Reform UK, delivering a line that quickly rippled across the Commons benches.
Rising to begin proceedings on Wednesday, the Prime Minister wished MPs a happy Christmas and new year – before adding that he suspected the festive break may not have been quite so joyful for everyone on the Reform benches.
The remark drew audible reaction from Labour MPs and was widely interpreted as a reference to the criminal case that has engulfed Reform in recent weeks.
🎄 A pointed reference to the Nathan Gill case
Starmer’s quip was seen as an allusion to the conviction of Nathan Gill, the former Reform UK leader in Wales, who was sentenced in November to ten-and-a-half years in prison.
Gill, a former Member of the European Parliament, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery after accepting payments to promote pro-Russian positions during his time in Brussels. The Old Bailey heard that he received around £40,000 to give interviews, speeches and parliamentary interventions that had been scripted by associates linked to Moscow-aligned interests.
Sentencing Gill, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb described his conduct as a “grave betrayal” of public trust, adding that the harm caused by his actions was “profound” and damaging to confidence in democratic institutions.
Reform UK, which Gill left in 2021, condemned his actions at the time, describing them as “unforgivable”.
🏛️ Farage absent as PMQs unfolds
Notably absent from the chamber during Starmer’s remarks was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Farage confirmed earlier in the week that he would not attend PMQs, claiming he would simply be “abused” by the Prime Minister and denied a right of reply. Instead, the Clacton MP appeared on Times Radio during the session as part of the broadcaster’s “PMQs Unpacked” programme.
The decision prompted criticism from across the political spectrum, with opponents questioning why a serving MP – and a self-declared future prime minister – would choose a radio studio over the House of Commons at one of Parliament’s most prominent accountability moments.
🎙️ Critics question Reform leader’s absence
Farage’s explanation has been met with scepticism, particularly given his repeated complaints in recent months about a lack of opportunities to challenge the Prime Minister directly.
On social media, critics pointed out that PMQs is one of the few guaranteed forums where opposition MPs can confront the government in real time. Some also noted that Farage withdrew a scheduled Commons question earlier in the week, prompting Labour MPs to accuse him of avoiding scrutiny altogether.
When Farage has previously clashed with Starmer at the despatch box, the exchanges have often ended with the Prime Minister landing a punchline at Reform’s expense — something allies of Farage privately concede has frustrated the party’s leadership.
⚖️ Reform under pressure at start of new year
Starmer’s remark, though brief, underscored the pressure facing Reform UK as 2026 begins. The party has sought to position itself as a serious alternative government-in-waiting, but the fallout from the Gill case and questions over leadership accountability have complicated that effort.
For Labour, the moment offered an early opportunity to frame Reform as politically vulnerable and ethically compromised, while reinforcing the contrast between parliamentary engagement and media-first opposition politics.
As the new year unfolds, Reform’s absence from key Commons moments – and Labour’s willingness to exploit it – looks set to remain a recurring feature of the political landscape.
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