Keir Starmer made a joke about Tory 'nuts' defecting to Reform and mocked Nadhim Zahawi's decision to jump ship to Nigel Farage's 'laundry service of disgraced Tory politicians'
12:32, 14 Jan 2026Updated 12:32, 14 Jan 2026
Keir Starmer has lashed out at Nigel Farage's "laundry service of disgraced Tory politicians" after its latest defection.
The Prime Minister quipped that Conservative "nuts" were defecting to Reform as he baited Kemi Badenoch at a tense PMQs. On Monday former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi - who quit the Tory government over a row about his taxes - became the latest to make the journey.
He claimed Reform has a "candidate for mayor who doesn't like London, a new Tory recruit who struggled to pay his taxes in this country, and a leader who spends more time in France than in his constituency".
The PM, who visited the Croydon branch of IKEA on Monday to highlight changes to paternity leave rules, quipped: "Whilst we were there at Ikea, they showed me the new prototype, the Ikea shadow cabinet.
"The trouble is, nobody wants to buy it. It's mainly constructed from dead word and every time you lose a nut it defects to Reform."
And he made a disparaging reference to "the member for Clacton's (Nigel Farage's) laundry service of disgraced Tory politicians". Mr Zahawi claimed that shortly before his defection, Ms Badenoch had asked for his advice on turning her fortunes around.
The PM told her: "I understand, Mr. Speaker, that she's taking advice on change. She had Nadhim Zahawi in to ask his advice, how to change and how to save her party. Please don't tell me she listened to his accountant.
"The next day after the advice he jumped ship to Reform, the 23rd former Tory MP to do so. I don't know which is more pitiful - the flood of former Tory MPs deserting her sinking ship or the Reform Party so desperate to launder any old failed Tory politician."
Ms Badenoch shot back: "The Prime Minister doesn't need to worry about me, I'm alright." Mr Farage went on to have a dig at Laila Cunningham, Reform's London mayoral candidate.
"What's obvious about London and Reform is they've got a candidate for mayor who doesn't like London. A new Tory recruit who struggled to pay his taxes in this country, and a leader who spends more time in France than in his constituency."