Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, labelling the Reform UK leader 'utterly spineless' for his failure to condemn a party councillor's description of children in care as 'downright evil'.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, exposing deep political divisions over the treatment of vulnerable young people.
PMQs Confrontation Over 'Appalling' Comments
The controversy erupted when Labour MP Darren Paffey raised what he termed 'vile' comments made by Reform UK councillor Andy Osborn. Mr Paffey highlighted that the councillor was under investigation for an alleged breach of the members' code of conduct.
Addressing the Prime Minister directly, Mr Paffey stated: 'While this Labour government is taking real action to support care leavers, a Reform councillor has disgracefully described children in care as downright evil.' He called for the House to join him in condemning what he described as Reform's 'vile rhetoric'.
In his response, Keir Starmer emphasised November's significance as the first ever Care Leavers Month, stating it was a time to recognise that every child deserves support to achieve their potential.
The Prime Minister highlighted his government's landmark Children's Wellbeing Bill, which requires every local authority to help care leavers find secure accommodation. He expressed disappointment that opposition parties had voted against the legislation.
Farage's 30-Second Defence
When directly challenged to condemn his councillor's remarks, Nigel Farage, the MP for Clacton, offered a brief defence. 'I've only got 30 seconds,' he stated, before immediately pivoting to question the Prime Minister about asylum hotels.
Mr Farage proceeded to praise Reform-led West Northamptonshire Council, claiming it would be 'issuing foreclosure notices on three migrant hotels within the next few days' due to public safety concerns regarding women and girls.
He asked the Prime Minister: 'Would the Prime Minister approve of us speeding up the closure of the migrant hotels?'
Mr Starmer responded by confirming his government's commitment to closing all remaining asylum hotels, noting they had reduced from 400 at their peak under the previous government to just 200 remaining.
Pattern of Controversial Remarks
The Prime Minister didn't stop at criticising Mr Farage's failure to address the comments about children in care. He also highlighted what he characterised as another failure of leadership regarding Reform MP Sarah Pochin.
In October, Ms Pochin had sparked controversy by stating it drove her 'mad seeing adverts full of Black and Asian people'. While she subsequently apologised for any offence caused and claimed her comments were 'phrased poorly', Mr Farage's response at the time was that he was 'unhappy' with the 'ugly' comments but insisted her intention wasn't racist.
Summing up his criticism, Prime Minister Starmer declared: 'He says he doesn't have time to condemn the comments calling children in care evil. He's also not had the time, it appears, to condemn the racist comments of his own MP - utterly spineless.'
The exchange underscores ongoing political tensions regarding social responsibility and the protection of vulnerable groups, setting the stage for further parliamentary battles over welfare and immigration policy.
