Keir Starmer criticized Nigel Farage’s faction for welcoming another Conservative defector, labeling it a “laundry service for disgraced Tory politicians.” During a heated session of Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson taunted Kemi Badenoch, insinuating that Conservative members were defecting to Reform. Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who left the Tory government amid a tax controversy, is the latest to join Reform.
According to Zahawi, Reform’s lineup includes a mayoral candidate with disdain for London, a new Tory member with tax payment issues, and a leader who spends more time in France than in his constituency. Johnson, jokingly referencing his visit to IKEA to discuss paternity leave policies, mocked an imaginary “Ikea shadow cabinet” made of “dead wood” that loses members to Reform.
Furthermore, Johnson sarcastically referred to Nigel Farage as running a “laundry service” for tarnished Tory politicians. Zahawi claimed that Badenoch sought his advice on reviving her political fortunes before defecting. In response, Johnson quipped about Badenoch seeking advice from Zahawi, only for him to switch allegiance to Reform, becoming the 23rd former Tory MP to do so.
Badenoch retorted to Johnson, asserting that she is doing fine without his concern. Farage took a jab at Reform’s mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham, highlighting criticisms about her, a new Tory member’s tax difficulties, and their leader’s absence from their constituency.