Pictured: Nigel Farage used disabled parking space for 45-minute M&S shop

Nigel Farage has been pictured using a disabled parking space for a 45-minute M&S shop.

The former Ukip leader was photographed entering a white BMW parked in a spot marked “disabled” near St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, central London.

The images, which date from April 11, show Mr Farage carrying a union flag M&S bag for life into the car before his chauffeur closes the door.

A witness told the SWNS news agency: “It’s outrageous. Everyone else has to obey the rules, but he can just park in a disabled bay when he makes rules for everybody else. It was busy, so lots of people were looking over at that disabled spot then driving off.

“The chauffeur driver saw it, then I saw him reverse into the parking spot. Nigel Farage got out and walked into a building opposite.”

A spokesman for Westminster council said pick-up and set-down was allowed in the parking bay for up to two minutes, but subsequent waiting “is not allowed without a disabled badge being on display or further exemption”.

The spokesman added: “The council monitors these bays to ensure drivers are complying with the rules.”

Speculation about whether Mr Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, will make a political comeback before the next general election, is rife in Westminster.

But speaking to The Telegraph at the weekend, he gave his strongest suggestion yet that he would not return to front-line politics, suggesting  Donald Trump’s attempts to win the US presidency in November mattered more than the general election.

“While I’m not ruling out anything in the UK completely, I think where I am this week is an indication of my thinking,” he said.

A spokesman for Mr Farage declined to comment.