Reform Leader Stays Home From UK Budget Over Seat Dispute

Nigel Farage did not attend the House of Commons for the Chancellor's first budget presentation of the parliamentary session. The Reform UK leader cited a potential physical confrontation with another member of parliament as the primary reason for his absence. He held a press conference after the speech to detail the circumstances surrounding his decision to stay away from the chamber.

Farage explained that he chose to avoid the floor of the House because another MP had removed a green prayer card he had placed to reserve a specific seat. The leader recalled a similar seating dispute during the state opening of parliament, which had escalated into a physical altercation. He stated that the removal of the card signaled an immediate risk of another conflict. "I could see, given that my prayer card had been removed, I was heading towards another physical altercation," he said. He added that he was also reviewing the budget line by line with economists in his office while away from the chamber.

A spokesperson for the House of Commons clarified the protocol behind the removal. The card lacked a valid date stamp, which is a requirement under long-standing arrangements for seat reservations. The spokesperson confirmed that the action followed standard chamber protocol and was not an act of personal dispute.

During his response to the budget, Farage voiced surprise at the 10 billion pounds allocated to support Ukraine. Standing beside Robert Jenrick, the party's Treasury spokesperson, Farage said he accepted the amount provided there was assurance it would not be lost to corruption. He described his primary concern as the rationality of Vladimir Putin and the proper use of the funds. He also defended the party's plan to cut capital gains tax on crypto assets to 10 percent. He argued that a lower rate would incentivize entry into the regulated system and bring the industry in from the cold.

The Reform leader also criticized the increase in machine-games duty for gambling shops. He warned that the extra tax could harm the horse-racing industry and push gambling offshore or into crypto markets. Farage suggested that the small concessions in the budget signaled a general election might occur in May of next year. He added that his party would be prepared for a vote as early as December. When asked about the 2022 budget under Liz Truss, he said he had misunderstood that spending was not cut despite the top-line changes.

Farage addressed the recent conviction of Tommy Robinson for harassing journalists. He acknowledged that Robinson's behavior had been obviously wrong but suggested Reform members would not face penalties for admiring him. He noted that liking a social media message did not make someone a full-blown marcher in support of the cause. Despite previous admiration for the Russian president, Farage said he supported the UK's position in the war and declined to repeat Donald Trump's harsher criticisms of Kyiv.

The next scheduled opportunity for Farage to address the chamber will occur during the question period following the budget. He is expected to return to the House of Commons to participate in the formal debate on the fiscal measures announced by the Chancellor.