Nigel Farage has been accused by the Lib Dem deputy leader, who said she did not witness the incident, of shoving a female MP on the day of the state opening of parliament in May, after he said he missed this week's budget speech because his seat reservation had been moved.
The Reform UK leader said on Wednesday that he had skipped John Healey's budget address because his seat reservation had been moved. He claimed he had been involved in a "physical altercation" with another MP on the day of the state opening of parliament in May, and decided to give the chamber a "wide berth" to "avoid conflict". It later emerged that his reservation had been removed by Commons staff because it lacked the proper date stamp.
The row escalated when Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said her party's MPs were involved in the May incident. Cooper told Sky News: "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." She added that Reform UK had its own problems at its conference with "bundling female journalists and members out of their hall" and said: "We'll take no lessons from them on this."
The Lib Dem MP believed to be involved, Caroline Voaden, posted on social media: "We both know that's not true Nigel don't we? I'm still waiting for the apology you were required to write to me … Though I won't hold my breath."
A Reform source disputed the Lib Dem characterisation, telling the Telegraph: "It's not true at all – it was the Lib Dem MPs being aggressive towards Nigel. This is typical Lib Dem dishonesty in an attempt to stay relevant."
Robert Jenrick, Reform's shadow chancellor, said: "I am sick to death of these pathetic Westminster debates. … I'm not interested in even responding, dignifying the nonsense that Daisy Cooper is talking about there."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The accusation of physical shoving in parliament raises questions about conduct and safety for female MPs.
- It fuels ongoing political tensions between Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, particularly around gender and respect in Westminster.
- The incident may prompt further scrutiny of behaviour in the House of Commons and calls for stronger enforcement of standards.
Background
Nigel Farage is the leader of Reform UK, a right-wing populist party. The state opening of parliament is a formal event where the monarch's speech sets out the government's agenda. Farage has been a controversial figure in British politics, known for his role in the Brexit campaign and for often clashing with other MPs.
Key Perspectives
Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem deputy leader): Claims Farage physically shoved a female Lib Dem MP and that a male MP challenged him. She says Reform UK has its own record of mistreating women at its conference.
Caroline Voaden (Lib Dem MP): Implicitly confirms the altercation and says she is still waiting for an apology Farage was required to write.
Reform source: Denies the accusation, saying Lib Dem MPs were aggressive towards Farage and the claim is "typical Lib Dem dishonesty".
Robert Jenrick (Reform shadow chancellor): Dismisses the matter as "pathetic Westminster debates" and refuses to dignify Cooper's comments.
What to Watch
- Whether Farage issues any further statement or apology in response to Voaden's demand.
- Any formal complaint or intervention by Commons standards authorities.
- How the incident affects public perception of Reform UK's stance on parliamentary conduct.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFarage was accused of shoving a female Liberal Democrat MP in parliament.World news | The Guardian: “Nigel Farage accused of shoving female Lib Dem MP in parliament.”
- SupportedFarage said he skipped the budget after his seat reservation was moved.World news | The Guardian: “The Reform leader said on Wednesday that he skipped John Healey’s speech in the House of Commons due to his seat reservation having been moved.”
- SupportedFarage said he gave the chamber a wide berth to avoid conflict.World news | The Guardian: “he decided to give it a “wide berth” in order to “avoid conflict” in the chamber.”
- SupportedCooper said she understood that Farage shoved a female MP, while making clear she did not witness it.World news | The Guardian: “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”
- SupportedCooper accused Farage of shoving a female MP on the day of the state opening of parliament in May, and said she did not witness the incident.World news | The Guardian: “Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy leader, claimed that her party’s MPs were involved in the May incident mentioned by Farage. Cooper told Sky News: “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”
- SupportedFarage said he had been involved in a “physical altercation” with another MP on the day of the state opening in May, and decided to avoid conflict in the chamber.World news | The Guardian: “He claimed that he had been involved in a “physical altercation” with another MP on the day of the state opening of parliament in May, so he decided to give it a “wide berth” in order to “avoid conflict” in the chamber.”
- SupportedCommons staff removed Farage’s reservation because it lacked the proper date stamp.World news | The Guardian: “It later emerged his reservation had been removed by Commons staff as it did not have the proper date stamp.”
- SupportedCooper said Reform UK had a problem at its conference with female journalists and members being bundled out of the hall, and said her party would take no lessons from them.World news | The Guardian: “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.”
- SupportedCaroline Voaden was believed to be the Lib Dem MP involved and posted that she was still waiting for an apology Farage was required to write.World news | The Guardian: “The Lib Dem MP involved in the incident is believed to be Caroline Voaden, who posted on social media: “We both know that’s not true Nigel don’t we?”
- SupportedA Reform source disputed the Lib Dem account, saying the Lib Dem MPs were aggressive towards Farage and calling it Lib Dem dishonesty.World news | The Guardian: “A Reform source told the Telegraph they disputed the Lib Dem characterisation, saying: “It’s not true at all – it was the Lib Dem MPs being aggressive towards Nigel. This is typical Lib Dem dishonesty in an attempt to stay relevant.””
- SupportedJenrick said he was sick of the Westminster debates and was not interested in responding to what Cooper was saying.World news | The Guardian: “And I’m not interested in even responding, dignifying the nonsense that Daisy Cooper is talking about there.”