Farage and Tories in borders bill battle

It was a late-night showdown in the Commons yesterday evening. The terrain? Labour’s Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. But while the legislation was passed – by Pyongyang-style majorities – on the back of Labour votes, a row has now broken out over whether the Tories or Reform were more effective in their opposition. Nigel Farage took to X to say that:

Without Reform MPs there would have been no vote on Labour’s useless immigration bill tonight. The Tories did not intend to oppose it until we forced a vote in the House of Commons. Reform UK are the real opposition.

This then prompted a counterargument by Conservative MPs, with the likes of Ben Obese-Jecty arguing that ‘All five Reform MPs voted for the Conservatives’ reasoned amendment on Labour’s Immigration bill last night, including Nigel.’ Yet Reform counter by noting that they forced a vote on the overall piece of legislation – with James McMurdock and Lee Anderson serving as the tellers.