Farage says he skipped Budget to avoid another Commons confrontation
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
The Commons said Farage’s seat reservation was removed because his prayer card did not have a valid date stamp, following his claim that its removal made him fear another confrontation. The explanation adds context to the Reform UK leader’s absence from the Budget and Prime Minister’s Questions.
Farage said he stayed in his party’s offices to review Chancellor John Healey’s statement with advisers and economists. He linked his decision to a physical altercation with an unnamed MP during May’s State Opening of Parliament; Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde disputed Farage’s account, saying he had not seen him queue for a card or attend prayers.
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In short
- Commons says Farage’s card lacked a valid date stamp.
- Farage said he feared another confrontation.
- He watched the Budget with advisers at Reform UK’s offices.
How this story developed
- 36 minutes ago Nigel Farage said he stayed away from the Commons during the Budget because he feared another physical altercation with an MP.
- 37 minutes ago The Commons said Farage’s seat reservation was removed because his prayer card did not have a valid date stamp, following his claim that its removal made him fear another confrontation.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: nigel, physical, altercation
Right-leaning outlets 1
Only here: another, commons, confrontation
Every side used: farage, skipped, budget, avoid
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The case for
Farage’s decision to stay away can be seen as a prudent way to prevent a repeat of the May altercation and keep the Budget day from being overshadowed by another confrontation. Watching with advisers and economists also let him scrutinise the statement closely, while avoiding an encounter he believed might become physical.
The case against
A Commons sitting is a central opportunity for an elected MP to hear and challenge the Government directly, and staying away from both the Budget and Prime Minister’s Questions may have limited that role. The reported removal of a prayer card does not by itself establish that another confrontation was likely, so critics could reasonably question whether absence was necessary.
Explained simply
Nigel Farage leads Reform UK, a political party with MPs in the House of Commons. The Budget is the government’s annual statement on taxes and public spending, delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Commons is where MPs debate and scrutinise government decisions. Farage’s reference to an earlier incident at the State Opening of Parliament points to tensions between MPs that can draw attention away from the political issues being discussed.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Nigel Farage claims he skipped watching the Budget in the Commons as he feared ending up in ‘another physical altercation’ in Parliament after ‘previous bust-up in May’”.