The MP who allegedly had a “physical altercation” with Nigel Farage in the Commons has said she is “shocked and bloody angry” over the incident.
The Reform UK leader claimed on Wednesday that he did not attend chancellor John Healey’s unveiling of his maiden Budget in the Commons because of this past kerfuffle with another unnamed politician.
Farage alleged the run-in happened at the State Opening of Parliament in May.
He told reporters on Wednesday: “Given my prayer card [to reserve a seat] was removed, I was heading towards another physical altercation [at the Budget].
“Being a quiet, shy and modest person, I decided against it.”
However, hours after that remark, Liberal Democrat Caroline Voaden replied on X: “And 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.”
The Telegraph also unearthed footage of Voaden and Farage walking in the Commons on Thursday from the King’s Speech in May.
Voaden responded to the article on X, writing: “Shocked and bloody angry I think… it takes more than that to shake me. I may be a woman, but I’m not the snowflake here.”
She later said: “It’s very strange that Farage has dredged up this incident, which happened five months ago while scrambling for an excuse as to why he wasn’t in the Chamber for the Budget speech.
“The truth is that on the day of the King’s Speech, Farage missed his chance to process with the other party leaders to the Lords, and rather than queue with the rest of us, he shoved me out of the way to barge past.
“It’s no surprise that Reform’s leader considers himself too important to wait like everyone else, or to politely ask someone to step out of the way.
“Such behaviour is unacceptable in any workplace, and it has no place in the House of Commons. Shoving a colleague out of the way on a staircase just shows the complete disdain he has for parliament and for other MPs.
“It’s why he couldn’t be bothered to show up for the Budget, and it’s why he still doesn’t understand how prayer cards work over two years after being elected.
“I’ve known Farage since our days in the European Parliament. It’s the same old story, he just wants to be in the limelight, in front of a camera, taking centre stage rather than actually doing the job he’s been elected to do.
“It’s impossible to imagine him ever being leader of the Opposition let alone Prime Minister – he might actually have to show up and do some work.”
Asked for further details about what happened on LBC, Robert Jenrick said: “Well, as I understand it, when Nigel went to, I think it was 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 in the normal way.
“I wasn’t a witness to that, but it sounds like it was pretty petty and pretty nasty.”
In response, a Home of Commons spokesperson said: “There are clear and long-established arrangements for Members to reserve their own seats in the Chamber using Prayer Cards displaying a valid date stamp.
“Today, a Prayer Card placed on a seat did not display a valid date stamp and was removed in line with the usual Chamber protocol.”
HuffPost UK understands Farage did not attend prayers and did not approach Commons staff regarding a seat reservation.
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