Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has been accused by Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper of physically shoving a female Liberal Democrat MP earlier this year, according to reports that say the incident took place in May.
Cooper said the alleged assault involved a colleague and described the behaviour as having "physically shoved" the MP. The claim was made public as parliamentary attention returned to seating arrangements and conduct in the House of Commons.
Farage this week said he chose not to attend Chancellor John Healey’s budget statement after complaining that his reserved seat had been moved. He has linked his absence to what he described as a prior altercation over seating, although he has not been quoted denying or addressing the specific allegation reported by Cooper.
The accusation adds to scrutiny of behaviour and personal interactions among MPs at a time when Commons benches and ceremonial occasions can be tightly packed and politically charged. It is not clear from initial reports whether any formal complaint or investigation has been launched into the incident.
Parliamentary leaders and party spokespeople often call for proper conduct and respect across party lines; this allegation is likely to prompt requests for clarification from both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats as the story develops. Further details, including any response from the MP named by Cooper, have not been made public in the accounts so far.