Ukip leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe in 'serious condition after being punched after party MEP meeting,' claims Nigel Farage

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A frontrunner to become leader of UKIP has been rushed to hospital today after allegedly being punched.

Steven Woolfe was undergoing tests and his condition was described as “serious”. It is believed he has bleeding on the brain.

The altercation happened at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg.

The Evening Standard understands that the fight happened outside the meeting of 22 Ukip MEPs where Mr Woolfe had been arguing with another MEP.

Afterwards Mr Woolfe told a colleague he was “all right” but that it had been “a difficult meeting”.

The Ukip MEP collapsed after a meeting in Strasbourg (ITV News)
ITV

His last words to the colleague were: “I’m off to vote.”

Initially a UKIP spokesman claimed that Mr Woolfe had been “taken suddenly ill” but acting leader Nigel Farage then made a statement revealing that an argument had taken place.

He 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.”

Later Mr Farage said he had spoken to Steven Woolfe on the phone and he is “mildly better.”

Paramedics treat Mr Woolfe
ITV News

Concern about his condition was raised when a rival leadership candidate, Raheem Kassam, tweeted that he had cancelled a TV interview “out of respect” for Mr Woolfe.

“I have cancelled my appearance on BBC @daily_politics out of respect to @Steven_Woolfe who is currently being treated after collapsing.”

A Ukip spokesperson had 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.”

Mr Woolfe has been named as hot favourite to succeed Diane James as leader of the party which has been riven with in-fighting.

But unlike Ms James, who quit after 18 days, he is an experienced figure used to media pressure.

One Ukip insider said Mr Woolfe hit his head against a window as he fell.

Suzanne Evans, the party’s former deputy chairman and another possible future leader, Tweeted a message of support for her Ukip colleague.

Ukip has suffered from fierce in-fighting and tempers are known to be frequently strained at their head office.

Injured: Steven Woolfe is in hospital after a bust-up at a Ukip meeting
Carl Court/Getty Images

He announced only yesterday he would stand for the leadership and was quickly endorsed by the party’s key donor Arron Banks.

However he admitted that had considered joining the Conservatives after becoming “enthused” by the start of Theresa May’s premiership.

MEP Patrick O'Flynn declined to discuss the incident, adding: "My thoughts and prayers are with Steven and I'm desperately, anxiously waiting to hear further news."

Mr Woolfe, from Moss Side in Manchester, became MEP for North West England in July 2014.

He also acts as Ukip spokesman for Migration and Financial Affairs and sits on the EU Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs committee.

Mr Woolfe worked as a lawyer before entering politics in 2010, becoming one of Mr Farage’s senior spokesmen when he initially ran for the leadership.

He ran to become MP for Stockport last year but finished third behind Labour’s Ann Coffey, who won the seat, and Daniel Hamilton of the Tories.

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