Nigel Farage accused of ‘shoving’ female Lib Dem MP after saying he skipped the Budget to avoid a ‘physical altercation’

Nigel Farage has been accused of “shoving” a female Lib Dem MP earlier this year after he said that he hadn’t gone to the Commons to watch the Budget yesterday to avoid a “physical altercation”.

The Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper has confirmed that the altercation happened at the State Opening of Parliament in May, but that Farage had been the one to push someone. 

Farage said he skipped the Budget yesterday because his prayer card, which MPs use to reserve a seat, had been removed from the Chamber.

A House of Commons spokesperson has since confirmed that the prayer card was removed because it did not have a valid date stamp on it. 

Farage said he decided to watch the Budget in his office instead “to avoid conflict”, stating he had got into a “physical altercation” in the Commons in May.

“I didn’t make a fuss about it, I didn’t complain,” Farage said of the incident.

Reform MP Robert Jenrick told LBC’s Swarbrick that at the state opening “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”.

Speaking to Sky News today, Cooper was asked whether there was an incident at the state opening, and told the broadcaster: “There was, and it was during the state opening of Parliament.

“My understanding – I didn’t see it, I wasn’t there – but my understanding is that he physically shoved one of our female MPs out of the way, and that one of our male MPs then challenged him on that.

“I didn’t see it, I didn’t witness what happened, but that was several months ago.”

Cooper added: “And let’s be really clear: it’s Reform UK that had a problem at their conference with bundling female journalists and members out of their hall. So, we’ll take no lessons from them on this.”

Cooper also told Sky: “Nigel Farage had every opportunity to get his prayer card in yesterday and get a space in Parliament, but as a leader of a very small party, he would have to have waited several hours to have the opportunity to speak.

“So, let’s be really clear about the choice that Nigel Farage made yesterday. He basically decided that he couldn’t be arsed to sit in the chamber and listen to the Chancellor’s speech and everybody else responding, and instead chose to go and do a press conference so he could get onto the airwaves.”

Other Lib Dem MPs have challenged Farage’s explanation for missing the Budget. 

Reacting to Farage’s claims he was ‘unable’ to attend the Budget, fellow Lib Dem MP Josh Babarinde wrote on X last night: “Fake news. I was 2nd in the MPs’ queue from 7.30am this morning (behind Des Swayne) for a prayer card to reserve a seat and there was no sign of Farage then.

“I didn’t see him come to prayers at 11.30am to come and claim a seat then either.

“You snooze, you lose.”

Joshua Reynolds, the Lib Dem MP for Maidenhead, commented: “I was sat in front of Reform today. 

“One of their team was asked by the Chief Whip if they’d give up their seat for Nigel, which they agreed to.

“But Nigel didn’t bother turning up….”.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward