Lib Dems and Reform UK in war of words over alleged shove

A war of words has broken out between Lib Dem MP Caroline Voaden and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over an alleged physical altercation in the House of Commons.

The row was triggered when Farage, explaining why he had not attended Wednesday's Budget, said he had been involved in a "physical altercation" with another MP at the State Opening of Parliament in May and had wanted to avoid a similar incident.

Voaden revealed herself to be the MP Farage had been referring to, writing on social media that she had been left "shocked and bloody angry" by the confrontation.

The Lib Dems have claimed that Farage "attempted to shove" their South Devon MP but a Reform source accused the party of "lying".

The Reform insider added: "The Lib Dems were claiming Nigel shoved her and that she was shaken, the video disproves that clearly."

Footage unearthed by the Daily Telegraph shows the pair leaving the chamber together at the state opening of Parliament but there is no visible evidence of a major altercation.

However, Lib Dem MP Max Wilkinson said the incident between Farage and Voaden occurred before the footage.

Voaden said Farage had been ordered to apologise to her after she complained to Commons authorities. The House of Commons would not comment on this.

Asked about the incident on Sky News, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "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."

Reform MP Robert Jenrick told Sky: "I am sick to death of these pathetic Westminster debates."

The issue has only now emerged, nearly six months after the alleged incident, because Farage was pressed on why he had not been in the House of Commons chamber for the Budget on Wednesday.

In response he said: "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.

A spokesperson for the House of Commons said that a prayer card for Farage - the way in which MPs reserve seats in the Commons - did not "display a valid date stamp" and therefore "was removed in line with the usual Chamber protocol".