By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage absented himself from the Chancellor’s first budget in the House of Commons on Wednesday, citing concerns that a dispute over seating could escalate into a physical altercation.
Seating dispute prompts absence
At a press conference in Westminster, Farage said he had decided to give parliament a “wide berth” after another MP removed a prayer card that reserved his seat. He revealed that a similar incident at the state opening of parliament had previously turned physical. The House of Commons later clarified that the card was removed because it lacked a valid date stamp, in line with established protocol.
Budget reaction: Ukraine aid and crypto tax
Farage said he was “shocked” by the £10bn pledged for economic and military aid to Ukraine, expressing concern that the funds could be lost to corruption. He also defended his party’s policy of cutting capital gains tax on cryptocurrency to 10%, arguing it would bring the industry into a regulated framework and would not primarily benefit his donors.
Election speculation and gambling tax criticism
The Reform leader suggested the budget’s modest giveaways indicated a general election in May next year, adding that his party would be ready as early as December. He criticised higher machine-games duty on betting shops, warning it would harm horse racing and push gambling offshore and into crypto markets.
Comparisons and other remarks
Farage compared the budget unfavourably to Liz Truss’s 2022 mini-budget, saying its failure stemmed from a lack of spending cuts. He also condemned far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s conviction for harassing journalists as “very wrong,” but insisted Reform members would not be penalised for expressing admiration for Robinson online.
