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UKIP Lawmaker Hospitalized After ‘Altercation’ at Meeting UKIP Lawmaker Hospitalized After ‘Altercation’ at Meeting
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Steven Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament and a likely candidate to lead the right-wing U.K. Independence Party, was hospitalized in serious condition on Thursday after what the party said was an “altercation” at a meeting of fellow lawmakers in Strasbourg, France. LONDON — Steven Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament and a likely candidate to lead the right-wing U.K. Independence Party, was hospitalized on Thursday after what the party said was an “altercation” at a meeting of fellow lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.
In a statement, the interim and former party leader, Nigel Farage, said that “following an altercation” at a gathering of lawmakers from UKIP, Mr. Woolfe “subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital.” In a statement from the hospital in Strasbourg, where doctors performed a CT scan, Mr. Woolfe said he was feeling “brighter” but would be kept overnight in the hospital as a precautionary measure.
“His condition is serious,” Mr. Farage added in the statement. Mr. Woolfe, 49, represents the northwest of England. “There is no blood clot in the brain,” he said. “I am sitting up, and said to be looking well. The only consequence at the moment is a bit of numbness on the left-hand side of my face.”
The interim and former party leader, Nigel Farage, said in a statement earlier in the day that “following an altercation” at a gathering of party lawmakers, Mr. Woolfe “subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital.”
At the time, Mr. Farage said Mr. Woolfe, 49, who represents the northwest of England, was in “serious” condition. An image from ITV News showed a man identified as Mr. Woolfe, dressed in a blue suit, lying on the floor and apparently unconscious.
This week, Diane James unexpectedly quit as leader of the party after just 18 days. Mr. Woolfe is expected to be a contender to replace her.This week, Diane James unexpectedly quit as leader of the party after just 18 days. Mr. Woolfe is expected to be a contender to replace her.
He had sought the leadership position the last time it was open but was declared ineligible to run because his nomination papers were submitted too late.He had sought the leadership position the last time it was open but was declared ineligible to run because his nomination papers were submitted too late.
Mr. Woolfe was not believed at first to have suffered any ill effects from the altercation, but he later collapsed in the Parliament building.Mr. Woolfe was not believed at first to have suffered any ill effects from the altercation, but he later collapsed in the Parliament building.
“Mr. Woolfe did indeed become unwell,” said Marjory van den Broeke, a spokeswoman for the European Parliament. “The Parliament medical service took care of him so that he could be transported to the hospital.”“Mr. Woolfe did indeed become unwell,” said Marjory van den Broeke, a spokeswoman for the European Parliament. “The Parliament medical service took care of him so that he could be transported to the hospital.”
Ms. van den Broeke said Mr. Woolfe became ill at 12:40 p.m., but she could not confirm whether he had been involved in a physical fight.
The Parliament’s medical staff had made “enough of an assessment to send him to hospital,” she said. Speaking again by telephone later in the afternoon, Ms. van den Broeke said that Mr. Woolfe had regained consciousness.
The episode occurred as the European Parliament, which meets monthly in Strasbourg, was ending its sessions for the week.The episode occurred as the European Parliament, which meets monthly in Strasbourg, was ending its sessions for the week.