Ukip MEP Mike Hookem denies throwing punch which put leadership favourite Steven Woolfe in hospital during scuffle at European Parliament
THE Ukip MEP alleged to have punched leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe denies landing the blow which left him fighting for his life in hospital.
And aide to Mike Hookem says the 62-year-old insisted the pair had been involved in a "verbal altercation".
Mr Woolfe, the favourite to take over from Nigel Farage, is now "sitting up and well" as he recovers having suffered two "epileptic-like fits" after collapsing following the incident at the European Parliament.
The MEP released a statement saying he was "feeling brighter, happier, and smiling as ever" and does not have a blood clot on his brain as had been feared earlier today.
He was treated by paramedics after the incident in Strasbourg, where it is understood he banged his head on a metal bar after being punched.
The 49-year-old is being kept in hospital overnight as a precaution, after it was confirmed he lost consciousness and felt "numbness on the left hand side of his body".
The altercation took place after a "clear the air meeting" with his fellow Ukip MEPs in Strasbourg, who were unhappy about his admission he considered defecting to the Conservatives.
Sources say he was confronted by the party’s defence spokesman Mike Hookem, a 62-year-old former Royal Marines Commando.
Mr Woolfe, who is celebrating his birthday today, reportedly went to vote but then felt unwell and collapsed.
Mr Hookem could not be contacted for most of today, but a spokesman for him denied that he had landed the blow.
"Mike did not touch him," she said.
After reports his condition was "life-threatening", the married father-of-one's health has seemingly improved, and he has now released a statement from his hospital bed.
It reads: "The CT scan has shown that there is no blood clot in the brain. At the moment I am feeling brighter, happier, and smiling as ever.
“As a precaution, I am being kept in overnight awaiting secondary tests to make sure everything in fine.
“I would like everyone to know that the parliamentary staff, the Ukip MEPs with me and hospital staff have been brilliant. Their care has been exceptional.
“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. "
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A spokeswoman for the national police in France said: "No one has called us about this incident and so we have no plans to investigate it at this time. If someone decides to ring and make a complaint, we will of course follow it up."
Fellow Ukip MEP Roger Helmer said: “I was at the meeting, there was a lively exchange of views, that’s not unusual I have to tell you.
“Someone mentioned there had been an altercation later but I didn’t see it. Obviously my thoughts are with Steven.”
A statement from Mr Farage earlier had 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.”
He is now launching an inquiry into the incident.
Mr Woolfe, his party's migration spokesman, threw his hat into the ring to lead Ukip after Diane James sensationally stood down after just 18 days at the helm.
Fellow leadership rivals have already tweeted their reaction to the news and wished the 49-year-old MEP all the best.
Suzanne Evans posted that she was shocked and was wishing him a "speedy recovery".
Who is Mike Hookem?
EX-COMMANDO engineer Mike Hookem is Ukip’s defence spokesman and in the past has been highly critical of the Tories over their failings to tackle immigration.
In the past the 62-year-old has described migrants trying to illegally get in to Britain through the Channel Tunnel as a threat to national security and called for troops to be sent to guard the entrance.
And on Tuesday he contributed to a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the situation in Calais.
During the referendum campaign he blasted David Cameron and the Remain campaign for saying leaving the EU would put our security at risk.
Following his election in 2014 he is the MEP for the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
He joined the party in 2008 and in 2010 stood in the general election in the Hull East constituency, coming fourth with 2,745 votes (8%).
On his website the Hull-born politician says he joined the party because of the credit crunch: “My decision to join UKIP was initially prompted by the dismay and defeat I saw in the faces of the people that I came across everyday in the streets of my home city of Hull, as well as the struggling tenants that I dealt with in the course of my job as a property manager.”
He left school at 15 and thought he was going to follow in his dad’s footsteps and work on the fish docks.
But instead, at 17, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and served for four years then came out determined to make a success of himself.
Still feeling the calling of military life he went back in the Armed Forces, joining the Royal Engineers as a Commando Engineer – a position he held for nine years.
Before joining Ukip he said he did not have any political experience “not unless you count shouting at TV’s Question Time every Thursday night”.
But he said: “It had become clear to me that if I didn’t do something, no-one would.”
During his time as the chairman of Ukip’s Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire regional committee he said he is proud of the difference he made – and left behind a far bigger and stronger organisation.
Describing himself as a “working class lad from the west end of Hull who calls a spade a spade” he said: “I do however promise to debunk the rubbish coming out of the EU, and to give the public the opportunity to understand what is being done in Europe in your name.”
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."
Rahem Kassam, who announced yesterday he was standing in the contest to replace Ms James, said he was cancelling a TV appearance "out of respect to Mr Woolfe.
He posted on Twitter that he apologised to Daily Politics but said: “It would not be respectful to campaign while Steven is unwell.”
Recently resigned leader Diane James posted: "My thoughts are with Steven Woolfe and his wife and daughter at this anxious time and I wish Steven a speedy and full recovery."
After Ms James announced she was stepping down less than three weeks after winning the leadership contest, it was revealed Mr Farage was technically back in charge for a record fourth spell.
But the MEP, who resigned for the third time in July saying he was “retired”, ruled out staying on in the position full-time.
He said: "It is time for someone else to do the job."
Ms James had said she did not “have sufficient authority, nor the full support” of Ukip MEPs and officers to reform the party.
There are also reports she left the role due to “her husband’s ill health”.
Mr Woolfe was the first contender to throw their hat in the ring, saying he would seek to appeal to voters in the North of England who were abandoning Labour and had voted for Brexit.
Even before his declaration, Mr Woolfe, who is an MEP for North West England, had been installed as clear favourite by the bookies to gain the leadership.
But in his statement announcing his candidacy he said he had been "enthused" by Theresa May's start to her premiership.
"Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative Party," he said.
This was followed by leaked information about meetings he had held with Tory figures about leaving Ukip for them, but this has not been confirmed.
Elsewhere in his statement released on Sunday he said: "In the last few weeks I have thought long and hard about my political future and how I can best help build the Brexit Britain we voted for in June - a meritocratic, independent and prosperous country that stands up for the millions of people who have been ignored for too long.
"I have been enthused by the start to Theresa May's premiership.
"Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative Party.
"However, having watched the Prime Minister's speech on Sunday I came to the conclusion that only a strong Ukip can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full and only our party can stand up for the communities of the midlands and the north.
"We can replace Labour as the main opposition party.
“We can build on our remarkable achievements, stand up for the ignored working class and secure a radically different political landscape in Britain for a generation.
"Under my leadership, that is what we will do."
Other politicians have reacted to the news: