UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe has been discharged from hospital in Strasbourg after he was admitted to hospital following an altercation with his colleague Mike Hookem last Thursday.
The UKIP leadership battle descended into further chaos as Hookem, an MEP, accused of punching Woolfe claimed that his collapse was “pure Hollywood”.
Hookem claimed that Woolfe had staged a photograph which showed him passed out on the ground of the European Parliament before he was rushed to hospital.
Woolfe had claimed his colleague Hookem “came at him and landed a blow” in a scuffle.
Hootem “absolutely” denies being responsible for Woolfe's injuries and claims he acted in self-defence.
Hookem released a photograph showing his hands clean of any bruises, cuts, or grazes.
He is threatening to sue Woolfe unless he retracts the claim that he punched him after the altercation last week.
Hookem told the Mail: “Now I’m not a medical man, but that was pure Hollywood to me the way he was face down. I was expecting a police squad to come and draw a line around him. People I have met who have had seizures they do not go down like that. It’s very suspect. I’ve got to get legal advice on my position if he carries on like this, stating that I punched him when it’s a total fabrication and a pack of lies. I’m taking advice on what is the next step to stop this man. I don’t think he can salvage his leadership bid. This whole thing has shown him to be a liar.”
An internal UKIP probe is set to investigate the incident, with some senior figures saying they should ban Woolfe from running for the leadership.
