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'LET'S TAKE THIS OUTSIDE'

Hospitalised Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe started fight with Mike Hookem over an insult to his manliness, witnesses claim

Woolfe reportedly flew into a rage when colleague Hookem said he had not admitted his mistakes like 'a proper man' during first Ukip leadership race

UKIP'S Steven Woolfe invited colleague Mike Hookem outside for a fight for challenging his manliness, insiders have claimed.

The punched MEP was enraged by his fellow Euro MP's accusation during a heated meeting that he had not behaved like "a proper man".

Hospitalised Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe started the fight with colleague Mike Hookem that led to his collapse, insiders have claimed
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Hospitalised Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe started the fight with colleague Mike Hookem that led to his collapse, insiders have claimedCredit: Getty Images

Other MEPs in the room at the time have told The Sun that the hospitalised 49-year-old "was far from the innocent victim" in the ugly dispute that has brought fresh shame on the party.

And they have told The Sun they are furious with Mr Woolfe for twisting events to win sympathy for himself.

North West MEP Mr Woolfe has accused Mr Hookem of punching him in rage, saying he "came at me and landed a blow".

Ukip MEPs at the scene said Woolfe was far from the innocent victim in the situation and has challenged Hookem, right, to the fight
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Ukip MEPs at the scene said Woolfe was far from the innocent victim in the situation and has challenged Hookem, right, to the fight
A punch to the face led to leadership favourite Woolfe dramatically collapsing in the European Parliament building
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A punch to the face led to leadership favourite Woolfe dramatically collapsing in the European Parliament buildingCredit: AP:Associated Press
ITV showed images of him being rushed to hospital by a team of paramedics, while interim leader Nigel Farage said friends had worried Woolfe might not make it through the ordeal
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ITV showed images of him being rushed to hospital by a team of paramedics, while interim leader Nigel Farage said friends had worried Woolfe might not make it through the ordealCredit: ITV NEWS

Mr Woolfe has also said ex-soldier Mr Hookem misread the suggestion that they take a dispute outside the room as a challenge for a fight.

But another MEP also in the Strasbourg meeting has insisted it was very clear what Mr Woolfe was proposing.

The meeting early on Thursday morning had been called to clear the air over Mr Woolfe's behaviour after he wasn't able to run for UKIP's leadership over the summer when party chiefs claimed he had failed to submit nomination papers in time.

Woolfe made statements from his hospital bed claiming Hookem had misinterpreted his invitation to continue their discussion out of the room, but MEPs now claim this is a misrepresentation
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Woolfe made statements from his hospital bed claiming Hookem had misinterpreted his invitation to continue their discussion out of the room, but MEPs now claim this is a misrepresentationCredit: AP:Associated Press
Woolfe had flown into a rage when Hookem berated him over how he handled missing the deadline for leadership entry in the recent contest
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They reported Woolfe flew into a rage when Hookem berated him over how he handled missing the deadline for leadership entry in the recent contestCredit: Reuters

The eyewitness MEP said: "Mike Hookem had a real verbal go at Steven, but it was perfectly fairly expressed.

"Mike told him, 'A proper man would have admitted not getting his papers in was his own fault and taken responsibility.

"That went down very badly with Steven. He replied: 'If that's the tone you're going to take with me Mike, let's take this outside'.

They said Hookem had laid into Woolfe but had expressed himself reasonably until the physical scuffle broke out outside the room
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They said Hookem had laid into Woolfe but had expressed himself reasonably until the physical scuffle broke out outside the roomCredit: BBC
Hookem defended himself on BBC radio Humberside today, claiming he had not punched Woolfe and the scuffle was very minor
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Hookem defended himself on BBC radio Humberside today, claiming he had not punched Woolfe and the scuffle was very minorCredit: BBC

"Steven immediately took his jacket off and stood up, as a dramatic gesture. Mike took his glasses off and they both went outside into an anteroom.

"There were shouts from people saying, 'Oh no, stop them'.

"But only five or six seconds later, Steven came careering back into the room, walking backwards like he had been either punched or pushed.

"Nobody can know for sure as it was only the two of them in the anteroom."

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Mr Woolfe collapsed an hour later elsewhere in the European Parliament building.

The anonymous MEP added: "This is typical of Stephen to claim he was the victim of some surprise attack.

"Again he's not taking responsibility for the consequences for his actions, and he is instead spinning his version to look good on the front pages."

Mr Hookem has denied punching Mr Woolfe, instead insisting they just had "a scuffle".

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