Bill Etheridge: MEP Mike Hookem didn't hit Steven Woolfe
No punches were thrown in the infamous UKIP 'Battle of Brussels' says Black Country MEP Bill Etheridge, who was first on the scene.
Mr Etheridge was just a few feet away from the incident that that led to leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe being rushed to hospital.
Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star the West Midlands MEP accused Mr Woolfe of not telling 'the true story'.
Mr Etheridge said: "It is left to me to lift the lid on the real events of what was a humiliating and deeply damaging episode."
Woolfe claims fellow MEP Mike Hookem 'landed a blow' on him as tempers flared at a UKIP meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday.
But Mr Etheridge says:
Woolfe challenged Hookem to a fight after losing his rag
Not a single blow was struck when the pair squared off
Woolfe was injured when he fell backwards through a door
He will stand for leader in a bid to save the party
But he will quit UKIP if Woolfe becomes leader
Mr Etheridge said Woolfe and Hookem had argued at a UKIP meeting of 13 MEPs, including interim leader Nigel Farage, in the parliament building.
He says Hookem challenged Woolfe over comments he made suggesting he had been in talks to join the Conservatives.
"Steven took off his jacket and told Mike to come outside so they could sort it out like men," he said.
The pair then left through sepearate doors with Mr Etheridge following Hookem 'a few seconds later'.
He says he then saw Mr Woolfe falling backwards through a door.
