The Ukip leadership contender Steven Woolfe has been discharged from hospital after an altercation with a fellow MEP.
The north-west England representative has claimed his colleague Mike Hookem “came at him” in a scuffle outside a meeting in Strasbourg, France, on Friday. Woolfe, who suffered seizures and collapsed later that day, was taken to hospital with a suspected head injury.
The altercation came as Woolfe prepared to stand to be Ukip’s new leader following the resignation of Diane James after 18 days at the top of the party. James succeeded Nigel Farage as leader in September. Woolfe was excluded from that leadership contest because he did not deliver his nomination papers in time.
A Ukip spokesman said on Sunday: “Steven Woolfe has today been discharged from hospital in Strasbourg. He is focused on continuing his recovery and will not be making any further statements today.”
Hookem has denied punching Woolfe and posted a photograph of his hands on Twitter in an attempt to prove he had not landed a blow on his colleague.
Woolfe issued a statement saying medical examinations suggested the bruising on his face was caused by more than just a fall or seizure.
An internal Ukip inquiry is to investigate the incident, with some senior figures saying Woolfe could end up being barred from running for leader.
Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge told Andrew Neil on the BBC’s Sunday Politics that he witnessed the incident and that he did not see any punches thrown. He said the incident happened after Hookem told Woolfe it was his own fault he did not get his nomination papers in on time.
Etheridge also disclosed that he would be standing for the leadership.
