Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not watch the Budget in the Commons (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has revealed he did not watch the Budget in the Commons to avoid a “physical altercation”.
The Reform UK leader said he clashed with another MP at the State Opening of Parliament and feared the same thing would happen today after his prayer card saving his seat in the chamber was removed.
Asked why he was not in the Commons as Chancellor John Healey made his statement, Mr Farage told a Reform press conference: “At the state opening of Parliament, I got involved … I didn’t want to … but I got involved in a physical altercation with an MP in the chamber. I didn’t make a fuss about it, I didn’t complain, but I could see given that my prayer card had been removed, I was heading towards another physical altercation. Just sometimes it’s better to avoid conflict. That’s one reason.
Chancellor John Healey delivered his first Budget (Image: BBC)
“Second reason is actually I sat going through the Budget with our team of economists in the office, so I actually had the time to go through it line by line.”
He added: “So it was actually more useful for me to sit in the office with a team of economists around me. But I was going to go to PMQs, but I could see potential conflict.
“And being a very quiet, shy, modest kind of person, I decided to give it a wide berth.”
Mr Farage also described the Budget as “a retail Budget aimed at an early general election”. The Reform UK leader added: “It doesn’t overall do very much, but it attempts to please a very large number of people.”
In his Budget, Mr Healey announced that millions of households will receive £100 to help with soaring energy bills and high street firms will get a tax break.
A spokesperson for the House of Commons said a prayer card was removed because it did not display the relevant information needed to reserve a place.
The 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.”
Nigel Farage Misses Budget After Being Involved in ‘Physical Altercation’ in Commons
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has attracted widespread attention after reportedly missing an important parliamentary Budget session following an alleged physical altercation in the House of Commons. The incident has raised questions about tensions between politicians at Westminster, with the circumstances surrounding the confrontation becoming a subject of considerable political discussion.
Farage’s absence from the Budget proceedings was particularly noticeable given his prominent role in challenging the government’s economic policies. As leader of Reform UK, he has repeatedly criticised Labour over taxation, public spending, immigration and the rising cost of living. His absence therefore created an opportunity for other opposition politicians to question the Chancellor without facing one of the government’s most vocal critics.
The alleged altercation has also highlighted the increasingly confrontational atmosphere in British politics. Parliamentary debates are traditionally expected to involve strong disagreements, but physical confrontations between elected representatives are unusual and can raise serious questions about professional conduct and parliamentary discipline.
The House of Commons has a long history of passionate political disagreements. MPs regularly challenge one another over government decisions, economic policies and national security. However, parliamentary rules require members to maintain appropriate behaviour and respect the authority of the Speaker.
If an incident involves physical contact, the circumstances must be examined carefully before responsibility can be established. Witness accounts, official parliamentary procedures and any available evidence would be important in determining what happened and whether disciplinary action was necessary.
Farage’s political opponents have frequently accused him of using provocative language, while his supporters argue that his direct communication style reflects public frustration with the political establishment. His absence from the Budget debate therefore attracted attention beyond the immediate circumstances of the alleged confrontation.
The timing was also significant because the Chancellor’s financial statement contained several measures affecting British households and businesses. These included changes to energy support, wages, taxation and public spending. Reform UK has made economic issues a central part of its political message, particularly its criticism of the tax burden facing working families and small businesses.
Farage has repeatedly argued that Britain needs a different economic direction, with lower taxation, stronger border controls and greater support for domestic businesses. He has also questioned whether government spending is producing sufficient improvements in public services.
His absence meant that some of these arguments had to be communicated by other Reform UK representatives during the parliamentary proceedings.
The incident also raises broader questions about political standards at Westminster. Members of Parliament are expected to represent their constituents responsibly, even when disagreements become heated. Maintaining order and professional conduct is essential to ensuring that parliamentary debates remain focused on public policy rather than personal confrontations.
Ultimately, the alleged altercation has added another unexpected development to an already politically sensitive Budget period. However, the most important questions remain what actually happened, whether any formal investigation will follow and how the incident might affect parliamentary proceedings. Until the circumstances are independently established, claims about responsibility should be treated with caution. Meanwhile, the Budget itself continues to shape the political debate over Britain’s economic future.