Nigel Farage claims he skipped the Budget to avoid a ‘physical altercation’ with another MP
The Reform leader claimed his seat reservation had been removed, but he is understood to have not filled out the slip correctly
Nigel Farage claimed his absence from the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget yesterday was down to him wanting to avoid a “physical altercation” with another MP.
Farage said he decided to stay away from the Commons because a slip of paper he had placed to reserve a seat on the green benches had been removed.
Speaking at a Reform press conference after the Budget, he said: “Given that my prayer card had been removed I was heading towards another physical altercation, and just sometimes it’s better to avoid conflict.”
He went on to say that he was going to attend John Healey’s Budget, “but I could see potential conflict, and being a very quiet, shy, modest kind of person I decided to give it a wide berth”.
However, Telegraph journalist Sapphire Hope has since reported that Farage’s prayer card was removed as he did not display a valid date stamp on his prayer card and it was removed as per Commons protocol.
The journalist, Sapphire Hope, said she also understood that Farage did not attend prayers and did not approach Commons staff regarding a seat reservation.
During the press conference, the Reform leader alleged that he had got into a “physical altercation” with an MP back in May at the State Opening of Parliament.
“I didn’t make a fuss about it, I didn’t complain,” Farage said of the incident.
Asked about Farage’s claims, Robert Jenrick said that during the King’s Speech, “a load of bolshy Lib Dem MPs got in the way of him and made it very difficult for him to join the procession to go and listen to the King’s speech”.
LBC presenter Tom Swarbrick pressed Jenrick on whether he was suggesting that the MPs prevented Farage from getting into the Commons to watch the Budget.
Jenrick instead referred to the alleged incident in May, when he said the Reform leader was blocked from leaving the Chamber.
Swarbrick clarified: “No, just for this event today, the Budget today, Nigel Farage has suggested he wasn’t in the Commons today because of a prior physical altercation.”
Jenrick: “Yeah because that’s why, I just explained what happened to him last time. So I think that’s the answer.”
He then tried to change the subject and started to talk about the Budget, which he said was more important. Jenrick added: “I know you’re always interested in trivia on the show.”
Swarbrick hit back: “I’m interested in the truth Mr Jenrick.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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