Key facts
- Nigel Farage skipped the UK chancellor's budget speech.
- Farage cited concerns of a physical altercation with another MP over seating.
- Farage criticized the £10 billion allocated to Ukraine.
- Farage defended Reform UK's policy of cutting capital gains tax on cryptocurrency.
- Farage criticized increased taxation on gambling shops.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, chose to skip the chancellor's budget speech in the House of Commons, citing concerns about a potential physical altercation with another MP over seating arrangements. He stated that a previous incident involving a "prayer card" being removed had escalated to a physical confrontation.
Following his absence from parliament, Farage held a press conference where he criticized the budget's allocation of £10 billion for Ukraine, expressing worries about corruption and the proper use of funds. He also defended his party's policy to cut capital gains tax on cryptocurrency, aiming to bring the sector into a regulated industry with a 10% tax rate.
Farage also commented on the budget's measures, including increased taxation on gambling shops, which he argued would negatively impact the horse-racing industry. He suggested that the budget's limited tax giveaways indicated a potential May general election.