Farage Declares Avoiding Budget Statement to Dodge 'Physical Altercation' After Previous Clash with MP Nigel Farage explains why he missed the Chancellor's Budget statement and why he chose to watch it from his office instead of in the Commons, citing concerns over another potential physical dispute and his prayer card being removed. Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, made headlines today after announcing that he had deliberately chosen not to attend the Chancellor's Budget statement in the House of Commons. He said his absence was driven by a desire to sidestep what he described as a potential "physical altercation.Nigel Farage Explains Physical Dispute" Farage explained that the decision was not a casual choice but the result of a serious confrontation that had already taken place earlier in the year. In May, during the State Opening of Parliament, he had reportedly been involved in a physical dispute with an unnamed Member of Parliament inside the Commons chamber. The incident, which was widely reported across the political spectrum, left Farage wary of any further confrontations.He also cited a separate episode in which his prayer card-an official ticket used by MPs to claim a seat in the chamber-was reportedly removed from his seat earlier that day."Without a valid prayer card, the arrangements I rely on to sit in the Commons were no longer in place, creating a very real risk that I would be pulled into another confrontation," he told reporters at a post‑statement press conference held in Westminster. Instead of facing the crowd in the chamber, Farage claimed he spent the day reviewing the Budget from his party headquarters, surrounded by a team of advisors and economists.Farage Reviews Budget in PrivateHe said that studying the document in that setting was "more useful" than the usual, less structured environment of the Commons, and allowed him to scrutinise each line of the budget closely. He also noted that he had planned to attend Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) that same day, but due to concerns about the potential for conflict in the highly charged atmosphere of the Commons, he chose to step back from the floor."Sometimes it's better to avoid conflict," Farage said. "I was a very quiet, shy, modest kind of person; I decided to give it a wide berth. " In the weeks since the disputed 2024 budget, the incident has drawn significant backlash. Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde posted to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) accusing Farage of fabricating his account of the events.Lib Dem MP Josh Babarinde Denies ClaimBabarinde pointed out that he had been the second MP in the waiting line for a prayer card at 7:30 a.m. that morning, following Des Swayne, and that there was no sign of Farage arriving to secure a seat at the 11:30 a.m. prayers the day of the Budget statement."You snooze, you lose," he scrawled on his post. A spokesperson from the House of Commons weighed in, confirming long-standing protocols for MPs to reserve seats via prayer cards that carry a valid date stamp. The spokesperson clarified that the card in question did not display a valid stamp and was removed in accordance with the chamber's standard procedures."The arrangement for MPs to reserve seats is well established," the spokesperson said, "and the card was removed for good reason. " Despite the official response, Farage's remarks point to the increasing tension in the Commons, where physical altercations and political drama have become more visible. Critics argue that Farage's admission of avoiding Parliament on the basis of fear is symptomatic of a broader culture of conflict that may undermine parliamentary democracy.Meanwhile, his party's choice to review the Budget behind closed doors has sparked debate about transparency and accountability when it comes to fiscal scrutiny by opposition leaders. As the UK faces a complex economic future, the manner in which MPs engage with fiscal policy will undoubtedly remain a key point of interest-and a source of controversy-among policymakers, journalists, and the public alike.