Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage are unlikely political bedfellows, a pair for whom a variation on a famous line from Kipling might seem most apt: left is left and right is right, and never the twain shall meet.

Yet there appears to be an undercurrent of camaraderie between the Labour prime minster and the Reform UK leader, as a jovial public exchange about the amount of time Farage spends Stateside earlier this month demonstrated.

The trend continued in Parliament on Friday when, in a moment that piqued the curiosity of many observers, Starmer rose from the front bench and strode across the Commons floor as voting began on the assisted dying bill, making a beeline for Farage.

Greeting his rival with a warm smile, the prime minister placed a hand on Farage’s arm before the pair engaged in a brief confab.

David Davis, the Conservative MP with whom Farage was speaking before Starmer approached, promptly retreated, leaving the two party leaders to share a quick exchange of pleasantries before the conversation appeared to take a more serious turn.

As voices murmured in the background, Farage leaned in to say something, his hands obscuring his lips, before Starmer replied and walked off with a thumbs up.

Earlier this month, Starmer quipped during a parliamentary exchange that he was half expecting to see Farage ‘on the immigration statistics’ – much to the amusement of his rival.

Their latest exchange followed an emotional five-hour debate in the chamber that culminated with MPs backing a plan to legalise assisted dying in England Wales.

Following a five-hour parliamentary debate on the assisted dying bill, Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage shared an exchange of pleasantries before the conversation turned more serious

Before Starmer made his way across the House of Commons floor, Farage had been chatting with the Tory MP David Davis, who did not linger following the prime minister’s arrival

In a landmark vote that paves the way for legislative change, the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill was passed by a majority of 55 votes, with 330 voting in favour and 275 against.

Under the terms of the law, which will now face further parliamentary scrutiny, terminally ill adults expected to die within six months would be free to seek help in ending their lives subject to the approval of two doctors and a high court judge.

While Starmer threw his weight behind the proposals, which were put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, Farage voted against – as did Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary.

‘We should all have the right to make the choices and decisions we want about our own bodies,’ said Leabeater.

The proposed law would require a person to have been registered with a GP in England or Wales for a minimum of one year.