A clip from the House of Commons is gaining traction on Instagram after Labour MP Adam Thompson launched a sharp jab at Nigel Farage’s arithmetic during Prime Minister’s Questions. Thompson, a former physics teacher, referenced Farage’s claim of £7 billion in savings which turned out to be just £27 million, about 250 times less. The moment sparked laughter in the chamber and, as the video circulates online, illustrates how a brief parliamentary exchange can become a social-media moment.
The moment that went viral
Thompson addressed the Commons and said he had come across “an awful case” of a 61-year-old man who believed he had counted up £7 billion in government spending when there was really only £27 million. He added: “What can we do for people like the leader of Reform UK, who evidently can’t add up?”Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner then chipped in with: “Reform’s sums simply don’t add up.” A video clip posted on Instagram shows Thompson’s quip and the chamber’s reaction as MPs laughed at Farage’s expense.
What triggered the roast
Farage, leader of Reform UK, had claimed his party could save £7 billion by cutting diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programmes in Whitehall. Parliamentary scrutiny later revealed actual DEI spending was about £27 million.Thompson’s dig hinged on that discrepancy, and the stark contrast between the claimed and verified figures quickly drew attention.
