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Farage says Budget absence gave him time with economists

The Reform UK leader also cites a confrontation in the Commons and says he wanted to avoid another.

Channel: GBNews ·

United KingdomStory of October 30, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Nigel Farage skipped John Healey's Budget following 'physical altercation' with MP

Nigel Farage offers two explanations for missing the Budget presentation: avoiding another confrontation in Parliament, and examining the spending and tax plans in his office with economists.

In a press conference clip carried by Britain's GB News, the Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton says: "I sat going through the budget with our team of economists in the office..." He describes reviewing it line by line rather than attending Chancellor John Healey's presentation in the chamber.

Before that explanation, Farage recounts an earlier incident at the State Opening of Parliament. "I got involved in a physical altercation with an MP in the chamber," he says. He does not name the other MP in the clip.

Farage then says his prayer card had been removed and that he was heading toward another confrontation. MPs use prayer cards to reserve seats in the Commons. "And just sometimes it's better to avoid conflict," he says.

Near the end, he refers specifically to giving Prime Minister's Questions a wide berth, describing himself jokingly as a "very quiet, shy, modest" person. The brief excerpt therefore moves between his explanation for missing the Budget and his decision to stay away from the weekly questioning session.

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