A TalkTV segment turned tense on Thursday (29 October) as presenter Kevin O'Sullivan and commentator Mathew Hulbert argued over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's absence from the Autumn Budget.
Hulbert said Farage should not have missed the Budget, announced in the Commons by Chancellor John Healey on Wednesday (28 October), following reports of an alleged 'shove' involving fellow MP Caroline Voaden. O'Sullivan countered that Farage could decide for himself whether to appear in the House of Commons.
Host and guest trade barbs
As the exchange grew heated, Hulbert said, "He's a party leader!" and promised to hold the presenter to account "next time there's criticism of other prominent figures in other parties."
"So you're saying that they have to attend every single time?" O'Sullivan asked. "It's the Budget!" Hulbert replied. The TalkTV host noted that "a lot of times, Reform UK MP's tend to be absent from the Chamber because they never get called to ask a question."
Hulbert responded: "Oh Kevin, come on! It's the Budget. I absolutely believe that Nigel Farage would have been called, and so he needs to explain…" O'Sullivan interrupted: "No, he doesn't; he's got every right."
Farage explains his absence
"Oh, this is pathetic!" Hulbert exclaimed. "It's not pathetic," O'Sullivan returned, accusing his guest of being "a little dictatorial" and asking, "By what right do you tell someone else how they should behave? What they should do? What has that got to do with you?"
The clash came hours after Farage explained why he had given the Budget "a wide berth." He said: "At the state opening of parliament, I got involved in, I didn't want to, but I got involved in a physical altercation with an MP in the chamber. I didn't make a fuss about it. I didn't complain. But I could see, given that my prayer card had been removed, I was heading towards another physical altercation, and just sometimes, it's better to avoid conflict is one reason. Second reason is, actually, I sat going through the Budget with the economists in the office line by line."
Prayer card removal and fallout
A House of Commons spokesperson said Farage's prayer card was removed on Wednesday because it did not display the required information to reserve a seat. "There are clear and long-established arrangements for members to reserve their own seats in the chamber using prayer cards displaying a valid date stamp," a representative said. "Today, a prayer card placed on a seat did not display a valid date stamp and was removed in line with the usual chamber protocol."
The Daily Telegraph has since reported that Farage's clash was with South Devon MP Caroline Voaden. On X, Voaden said she is still waiting for an apology, "though I won't hold my breath."
