Sir Keir Starmer described Nigel Farage as “a very naughty boy” at a mass meeting of Labour MPs in the House of Commons tonight.
The Prime Minister made fun of the Reform UK leader’s battles with his former colleague Rupert Lowe at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party in Parliament.
According to one MP at the meeting, Starmer told MPs: “Easter is coming up. We are in the middle of Lent.
"But Nigel Farage is not the Messiah – he’s a very naughty boy.”
Sir Keir Starmer described Nigel Farage as “a very naughty boy” at a mass meeting of Labour MPs in the House of Commons tonight
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Starmer used the hour long meeting to address concerns from back bench Labour MPs about planning cuts and the benefits bill.
He told MPs that the party needed “to be ruthless, bold and energetic in tearing down the barriers standing in the way of working people”, according to one MP present.
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Starmer also told MPs there was “a moral case” to reform the broken system which left young people “stuck on benefits”, according to the witness.
Asked about his reception at the meeting, Starmer told reporters as he left it was “all good, very good”.
It comes after Starmer has been left bracing for the biggest rebellion of his premiership over his plans to “take a sledgehammer” to Britain’s benefits bill.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell has spoken out against potential welfare cuts, warning that "taking a sledgehammer to benefits" is "not the right approach".
Keir Starmer is believed to have told MPs there was “a moral case” to reform the broken system which left young people “stuck on benefits”
REUTERSThe York Central MP openly addressed fears held by potential Labour rebels as the Government appears poised to reduce Department for Work & Pensions expenditure.
The potential cuts to Department for Work & Pensions expenditure puts further pressure on Liz Kendall just months after the Government axed Winter Fuel Payments and refused to cover compensation payments for Waspi women.
The Treasury is expected to push ahead with significant cuts to the welfare budget ahead of the Spring Statement at the end of this month.
Cuts have been pencilled in to make up for tightening fiscal headroom and fund a drastic increase in defence spending.
