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Steven Woolfe 'well and smiling' after alleged fight with Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe 'well and smiling' after alleged fight with Ukip MEP
(about 1 hour later)
The Ukip leadership favourite, Steven Woolfe, has said he is well and “smiling as ever” after he collapsed following an altercation during a meeting of the party’s MEPs in Strasbourg. The Ukip leadership favourite, Steven Woolfe, has said he is well and “smiling as ever” after he collapsed following an alleged altercation during a meeting of the party’s MEPs in Strasbourg.
The North West England MEP was taken to hospital in a serious condition on Thursday morning after falling ill at the European parliament in Strasbourg. The North West England MEP was taken to hospital in a serious condition on Thursday morning after collapsing at the European parliament in Strasbourg.
He had apparently earlier been involved in a fight with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem after a tense meeting, according to a source close to the party. Woolfe’s injuries are understood to have occurred during the alleged fight with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem after a tense meeting on Thursday morning, according to a source close to the party.
“I am feeling brighter, happier and smiling as ever. I am sitting up and said to look well,” Woolfe said in a statement from hospital. “The CT scan has shown that there is no blood clot in the brain. The only consequence at the moment is a bit of numbness on the left hand side of my face. I am being kept in overnight awaiting secondary tests to make sure everything is fine.”“I am feeling brighter, happier and smiling as ever. I am sitting up and said to look well,” Woolfe said in a statement from hospital. “The CT scan has shown that there is no blood clot in the brain. The only consequence at the moment is a bit of numbness on the left hand side of my face. I am being kept in overnight awaiting secondary tests to make sure everything is fine.”
The source said Woolfe had been confronted by Hookem during the meeting over reports that he had considered defecting to the Conservatives. A Ukip source said Woolfe had had two “epileptic-like fits”, and started to feel numbness on the left hand side of his body after the alleged fight. He lost consciousness, but is now sitting up and speaking to colleagues.
Hookem was said to have said “a few choice words” to Woolfe about defecting to the Tories. Woolfe was alleged to have been confronted by Hookem – the party’s defence spokesman who served in the RAF and the Royal Engineers – during the meeting. The disagreement arose over reports that he had considered defecting to the Conservatives.
“Steven Woolfe has then taken his jacket off, walked over and said: ‘Right you, outside now’ or words to that effect,” the source told the Guardian. Hookem is understood to have said “a few choice words” to Woolfe about defecting to the Tories.
“They went outside and Steven Woolfe got the brunt of it.” “Steven Woolfe has then taken his jacket off, walked over and said: ‘Right you, outside now’ or words to that effect,” the source told the Guardian. “They went outside and Steven Woolfe got the brunt of it.”
It is understood that Woolfe walked away from the fight at around 10am and appeared well enough to vote in the parliament half an hour later. However, Woolfe left the vote midway through and then collapsed before he was taken to hospital. It is understood that Woolfe walked away from the alleged fight at around 10am and appeared well enough to vote in the parliament half an hour later. However, he left midway through the vote and collapsed on a walkway at around 12.30pm.
After Woolfe was taken to hospital, Ukip’s 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 condition is serious.”After Woolfe was taken to hospital, Ukip’s 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 condition is serious.”
Farage later told the Telegraph: “Things are mildly better. I have just spoken to Mr Woolfe and I will be going to visit him later this afternoon. We are still waiting for the results. I will be going go visit him in hospital.”Farage later told the Telegraph: “Things are mildly better. I have just spoken to Mr Woolfe and I will be going to visit him later this afternoon. We are still waiting for the results. I will be going go visit him in hospital.”
MEP Nathan Gill, Woolfe’s friend and campaign manager, is with him in the Strasbourg hospital.
Raheem Kassam, Farage’s former adviser, had earlier said Woolfe’s condition was believed to be “life-threatening”.Raheem Kassam, Farage’s former adviser, had earlier said Woolfe’s condition was believed to be “life-threatening”.
I've just heard Steven Woolfe's condition is life threatening. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Ukip’s MEPs had been invited to come and “clear the air” amid the crisis sparked by Diane James’s resignation as leader and Woolfe’s admission that he had considered defecting to the Tories.
Ukip’s MEPs had been invited to come and “clear the air” amid the crisis sparked by Diane James’s resignation as leader and Woolfe’s admission he had considered defecting to the Tories.
Neil Hamilton, Ukip’s leader in the Welsh assembly, said he had been told by colleagues in the European parliament that Woolfe had “picked a fight with one of them and came off worse”.Neil Hamilton, Ukip’s leader in the Welsh assembly, said he had been told by colleagues in the European parliament that Woolfe had “picked a fight with one of them and came off worse”.
Hamilton told the BBC he had heard from a witness that Woolfe had bleeding on the brain, after he was knocked over and hit his head. “He toppled over and hit his head on a glass window so it must have been quite a wallop,” said Hamilton.Hamilton told the BBC he had heard from a witness that Woolfe had bleeding on the brain, after he was knocked over and hit his head. “He toppled over and hit his head on a glass window so it must have been quite a wallop,” said Hamilton.
It is understood Woolfe, Farage and other MEPs had been meeting James, who left her post on Tuesday just 18 days after being elected. Strasbourg police said they had not been called to investigate, and it is understood no complaint has been made by Woolfe.
Ukip spokesman Gawain Towler said: “Steven Woolfe MEP was taken suddenly ill in the European parliament building in Strasbourg this morning. He has been taken to hospital in the city and he is undergoing tests.”Ukip spokesman Gawain Towler said: “Steven Woolfe MEP was taken suddenly ill in the European parliament building in Strasbourg this morning. He has been taken to hospital in the city and he is undergoing tests.”
Suzanne Evans, Ukip’s former deputy chair who is said to be considering her own leadership bid, tweeted: “Shocked to hear Steven Woolfe has apparently collapsed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Wishing him well for a speedy recovery.”Suzanne Evans, Ukip’s former deputy chair who is said to be considering her own leadership bid, tweeted: “Shocked to hear Steven Woolfe has apparently collapsed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Wishing him well for a speedy recovery.”
Kassam, who is also running to be Ukip leader, earlier said he was dropping out of an appearance on the BBC’s Daily Politics out of respect for Woolfe. “I really hope Steven Woolfe is okay. Plz send him your best wishes.”Kassam, who is also running to be Ukip leader, earlier said he was dropping out of an appearance on the BBC’s Daily Politics out of respect for Woolfe. “I really hope Steven Woolfe is okay. Plz send him your best wishes.”
My apologies to @RobbieGibb and team at @daily_politics but it would not be respectful to campaign while Steven is unwell.
Woolfe announced on Wednesday that he was reviving his bid to become Ukip leader after James quit. James had cited a lack of support from colleagues as she plunged the party into turmoil.Woolfe announced on Wednesday that he was reviving his bid to become Ukip leader after James quit. James had cited a lack of support from colleagues as she plunged the party into turmoil.
Woolfe was blocked from running in the previous contest to succeed Farage – for which he was the favourite – after submitting his forms 17 minutes late.Woolfe was blocked from running in the previous contest to succeed Farage – for which he was the favourite – after submitting his forms 17 minutes late.
There had long been rumours Woolfe was poised to defect to the Tories, which he addressed in a statement released on Wednesday. “I have been enthused by the start to Theresa May’s premiership,” he said. “Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative party.There had long been rumours Woolfe was poised to defect to the Tories, which he addressed in a statement released on Wednesday. “I have been enthused by the start to Theresa May’s premiership,” he said. “Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative party.
“However, having watched the prime minister’s speech on Sunday, I came to the conclusion that only a strong Ukip can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full, and only our party can stand up for the communities of the Midlands and the north.”“However, having watched the prime minister’s speech on Sunday, I came to the conclusion that only a strong Ukip can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full, and only our party can stand up for the communities of the Midlands and the north.”