Caroline Voaden identified as the MP involved in row with Nigel Farage
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Caroline Voaden, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, was confirmed as the MP involved in a physical altercation with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in the Commons, after which she filed a complaint and Farage was made to apologise. Reform dismissed Liberal Democrat claims as dishonest, saying the row was blown out of proportion and politically weaponised.
Caroline Voaden, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman who has represented South Devon since 2024, was identified as the MP involved in a physical altercation with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in the House of Commons. The incident, which occurred during the state opening of Parliament in May, led Voaden to lodge a complaint with the Serjeant at Arms, who subsequently required Farage to apologise.
Farage told journalists that he had not wanted to apologise but did so after the complaint, adding that he avoided further conflict by skipping the Budget speech and watching it remotely with his policy team. He said the decision was “better to avoid conflict” after learning his prayer-card seat reservation had been removed under standard chamber protocol.
A Liberal Democrat source described Voaden as “shocked and shaken” by the episode and accused Farage of “gaslighting” her. Another Liberal Democrat MP, Monica Harding, claimed Farage had shoved a female MP out of the way to reach the front of the procession for the King’s Speech, a charge Farage’s camp denied, calling it “typical Lib Dem dishonesty”.
The Reform party’s deputy leader Richard Tice and other Reform MPs were present in the chamber during the Budget, while Farage held a press conference outside Parliament with Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick. Liberal Democrat spokespersons rejected Reform’s version of events, stating the incident occurred when Farage attempted to shove a female Liberal Democrat MP during the State Opening.