Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, marked the 10th anniversary of the UK's vote to leave the European Union by dining at Saint Jacques, a high-end French restaurant in St James's, central London, while MPs debated defence spending in the House of Commons. He was pictured leaving the restaurant at 5.20pm after reportedly being there since at least 1pm on Tuesday.
Absence from Defence Debate
The opposition day debate on defence spending and readiness began shortly after 12.30pm and continued past 4pm. Farage, who earlier this month claimed the country was “defenceless” and criticised Number 10 on the issue, did not attend. Shadow defence minister Mark Francois, a Conservative MP who campaigned for Brexit, told the Commons: “Perhaps we can achieve some consensus on this: yet again, we are debating defence, our armed forces, and the people who keep us safe, but the plastic patriots of Reform cannot be bothered to turn up.” He added: “Does the hon. Gentleman agree that people who wrap themselves in the flag should at least turn up to debate the future of the people whose job it is to defend it?”
Labour MP Graeme Downie replied: “I was slightly concerned that I was going to have to disagree with the right hon. Gentleman at this early stage, but I absolutely agree with him. Any politician who wraps themselves in a flag, without there being any substance to their reason for doing so, is not worthy of leading any constituency or party—and certainly not any country.”
The Celebration at Saint Jacques
Farage was joined at the restaurant by Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice, close aide George Cottrell (nicknamed “Posh George”), Brexit-supporting Baroness Hoey, Leave.EU co-founder Arron Banks, Brexit campaigner Andy Wigmore, and former UKIP leadership contender Raheem Kassam. Tice left early, while Baroness Hoey departed at about 4pm. The restaurant’s website describes its menu, which includes a £46 tronçon of wild turbot, £27 pressed foie gras terrine, and £95 Côte de bœuf for two with fries.
A photo posted on Farage’s Facebook page showed him in what appears to be the restaurant’s courtyard with Tice, Baroness Hoey, Banks, and Wigmore. Baroness Hoey shared the image on X, writing: “Ten years since the wonderful referendum result good to join the ‘Bad Boys of Brexit’ again.” Tice reposted it, adding: “The band back together again to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brexit.”
Earlier Scrutiny Over Undeclared Gift
Earlier that day, Farage faced challenging interviews over the undeclared £5 million gift he received from Thai-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne. Earlier this week, reports claimed Brexit has cost up to a million jobs and “permanently scarred” the economy.
Reform UK Response
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Opposition Days have no legislative substance and are used for point scoring, which ironically is what the Mirror are doing here themselves. Reform spoke in the Armed Forced [sic] debate earlier in the week. Nigel spent three decades campaigning for Brexit. Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the British people rejecting the Mirror’s editorial line is time well spent.”
