NIGEL FARAGE MISSES BUDGET SPEECH OVER ALTERCATION CONCERN

Nigel Farage said he missed the Chancellor’s Budget speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday because he wanted to avoid a possible physical altercation. The Reform UK leader said someone had removed his prayer card, which MPs use to reserve seats in the chamber. He gave his explanation at a Westminster press conference after the Budget address. “Just sometimes it’s better to avoid conflict,” Farage said.

Farage said he had become involved in a physical altercation with another MP during the state opening of Parliament on 13 May. He said he had not wanted the confrontation, had made no complaint about it and feared his missing prayer card could lead to another. He said he had intended to attend Prime Minister’s Questions but decided to “give it a wide berth”. Farage compared the atmosphere to “being at school” and called it “pathetic”.

Farage said he spent the speech in his office reviewing the Budget line by line with a team of economists. He said that was more useful to him than sitting in the chamber. Farage and Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick both criticised the financial plans at the afternoon briefing. Jenrick called the Budget “a nothingburger” and “a do-nothing Budget”.