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| MEP Woolfe quits 'death spiral' UKIP | MEP Woolfe quits 'death spiral' UKIP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A UKIP MEP who spent three nights in hospital after a row with a party colleague is quitting the party, saying it is in a "death spiral". | A UKIP MEP who spent three nights in hospital after a row with a party colleague is quitting the party, saying it is in a "death spiral". |
| Steven Woolfe, who had been running to be the next leader, told the BBC there was "something rotten" in the party. | Steven Woolfe, who had been running to be the next leader, told the BBC there was "something rotten" in the party. |
| He also accused fellow MEP Mike Hookem of inflicting a "blow" to his face in the row at a party meeting. | He also accused fellow MEP Mike Hookem of inflicting a "blow" to his face in the row at a party meeting. |
| Mr Hookem has acknowledged a "scuffle" but said he "categorically did not" throw a punch at his colleague. | Mr Hookem has acknowledged a "scuffle" but said he "categorically did not" throw a punch at his colleague. |
| Mr Woolfe was rushed to hospital after collapsing following the incident, which UKIP described as an "altercation", and came during a meeting to discuss reports the North West England MEP had had discussions about joining the Conservatives. | Mr Woolfe was rushed to hospital after collapsing following the incident, which UKIP described as an "altercation", and came during a meeting to discuss reports the North West England MEP had had discussions about joining the Conservatives. |
| 'Man to man' | 'Man to man' |
| In the BBC interview, Mr Woolfe said he had told Mr Hookem "let's go outside and discuss this man-to-man" after they clashed during UKIP's meeting in the European Parliament, saying he had been suggesting they discuss their differences verbally. | In the BBC interview, Mr Woolfe said he had told Mr Hookem "let's go outside and discuss this man-to-man" after they clashed during UKIP's meeting in the European Parliament, saying he had been suggesting they discuss their differences verbally. |
| Asked what happened next, Mr Woolfe said: "He rushed at me. A blow to my face forced me back through the door." | Asked what happened next, Mr Woolfe said: "He rushed at me. A blow to my face forced me back through the door." |
| He added: "I couldn't see whether it was a fist, whether it was an open hand... the point was it was a blow that impacted me." | He added: "I couldn't see whether it was a fist, whether it was an open hand... the point was it was a blow that impacted me." |
| Mr Woolfe said he was pushed back into the room and hit the back of his head against a wall and denied aggression towards Mr Hookem, saying: "It was too quick." | Mr Woolfe said he was pushed back into the room and hit the back of his head against a wall and denied aggression towards Mr Hookem, saying: "It was too quick." |
| He said that while he was voting in the European Parliament later, he started getting a severe headache and sought medical help. | He said that while he was voting in the European Parliament later, he started getting a severe headache and sought medical help. |
| He said the doctors were "incredibly concerned" about him and that he was unconscious "for quite some time". | He said the doctors were "incredibly concerned" about him and that he was unconscious "for quite some time". |
| Had it not been for the medics, he said "things would have been a lot more severe for me". | Had it not been for the medics, he said "things would have been a lot more severe for me". |
| According to Mr Hookem, Mr Woolfe suggested they "take it outside of the room". | According to Mr Hookem, Mr Woolfe suggested they "take it outside of the room". |
| Speaking to the BBC after the incident, Mr Hookem said: "When I walked in he approached me to attack me. He came at me, I defended myself. There were no punches thrown, there was no face slapping, there were no digs, there was nothing." | Speaking to the BBC after the incident, Mr Hookem said: "When I walked in he approached me to attack me. He came at me, I defended myself. There were no punches thrown, there was no face slapping, there were no digs, there was nothing." |
| Mr Woolfe was seen as a frontrunner to become UKIP leader after the surprise resignation of Diane James. | Mr Woolfe was seen as a frontrunner to become UKIP leader after the surprise resignation of Diane James. |
| However, he said he was withdrawing as a candidate and resigning from the party immediately, "with a huge amount of sadness". | However, he said he was withdrawing as a candidate and resigning from the party immediately, "with a huge amount of sadness". |
| He said divisions within the party had created "huge negative camps", adding: "There is a spiral that is going on that's bringing it down." | He said divisions within the party had created "huge negative camps", adding: "There is a spiral that is going on that's bringing it down." |
| There had been some "horrific" things said about him after the row, Mr Woolfe said, describing the episode as a "horror story". | |
| He added: "I think they've got a spiral, someone suggested that it's a death spiral, of their own making." | |
| Only a "small handful" of UKIP politicians and officials had contacted him to ask how he was since the incident, he added. | Only a "small handful" of UKIP politicians and officials had contacted him to ask how he was since the incident, he added. |
| 'Sadness and disappointment' | 'Sadness and disappointment' |
| In a statement on his website, Mr Woolfe said that, contrary to reports, he had made a police complaint about the incident involving Mr Hookem. | In a statement on his website, Mr Woolfe said that, contrary to reports, he had made a police complaint about the incident involving Mr Hookem. |
| He added that in his view, UKIP was "ungovernable without Nigel Farage leading it and the referendum cause to unite it". | He added that in his view, UKIP was "ungovernable without Nigel Farage leading it and the referendum cause to unite it". |
| Nominations to replace Ms James close on 31 October, with the new leader announced on 28 November. | Nominations to replace Ms James close on 31 October, with the new leader announced on 28 November. |
| One of the contenders, Raheem Kassam, said those responsible for "negatively campaigning" against Mr Woolfe should "hang their heads in shame" and urged him to return to UKIP. | One of the contenders, Raheem Kassam, said those responsible for "negatively campaigning" against Mr Woolfe should "hang their heads in shame" and urged him to return to UKIP. |
| UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said he felt "sadness and disappointment" at Mr Woolfe's resignation. | UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said he felt "sadness and disappointment" at Mr Woolfe's resignation. |
| He said he disagreed with Mr Woolfe's characterisation of the party, and predicted the forthcoming leadership race would showcase the "strength and depth of talent" in the party. | He said he disagreed with Mr Woolfe's characterisation of the party, and predicted the forthcoming leadership race would showcase the "strength and depth of talent" in the party. |