UKIP Leadership Favourite Steven Woolfe Conscious In Hospital After Altercation With MEP

The MEP collapsed after a meeting with party colleagues at the European parliament turned violent; he is now recovering in hospital.

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UKIP MEP and party leadership favourite Steven Woolfe was recovering in hospital in Strasbourg on Thursday afternoon after an “altercation” with his party colleagues at the European Parliament.

The fight between Woolfe and another MEP yet to be formally named occurred at a meeting of UKIP MEPs which turned sour.

Woolfe was able to leave the room after the fight then eventually complained about feeling numb on the left side of his body at around 12.30pm, after which he had two “epileptic-like” fits and collapsed on the ground.

Steven Woolfe seen collapsed at the European parliament on 6 October. ITV News

He was then carried to hospital, where a series of tests were run to make sure that he did not have bleeding of the brain.

In a statement released to the press at 3pm, Woolfe said: “The CT scan has shown that there is no blood clot in the brain. At the moment I am feeling brighter, happier, and smiling as ever. As a precaution, I am being kept in overnight awaiting secondary tests to make sure everything in fine.

“I would like everyone to know that the parliamentary staff, the UKIP MEPs with me, and hospital staff have been brilliant. Their care has been exceptional. I am sitting up, and said to be looking well. The only consequence at the moment is a bit of numbness on the left hand side of my face.”

UKIP also confirmed that Woolfe had collapsed after having fits, but made no mention of a fight, and it is believed that it has not been in contact with the police.

In an early statement, interim leader Nigel Farage said: “I deeply regret that following an altercation that took place at a meeting of UKIP MEPs this morning that Steven Woolfe subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital. His situation is serious.”

After speaking to Woolfe on the phone, Farage later said the MEP was “mildly better” but would be kept overnight for some blood tests.

Welsh assembly UKIP leader Neil Hamilton told BBC News that Woolfe “picked a fight” and “came off worse”.

“Let’s not generalise it,” he said, it’s a dispute between one or two individuals – it’s not good that they are public representatives of the party in the European parliament and that’s highly regrettable.”

Suzanne Evans, another leadership contender, tweeted on Thursday morning: