“I trust that overnight everything will be OK and he’ll be released tomorrow.”

Mr Farage expected Mr Woolfe to be “laid up for a little bit” after what he described as “a big shock” that had “caused us to fear for his life.”

“It’s two grown men getting involved in an altercation. “He has been taken to hospital in the city and he is undergoing tests.”
• Moss Side-born MEP in bid to lead Ukip after nomination gaffe

Following a meeting with Ukip MEPs, interim leader Nigel Farage said: “I deeply regret that following an altercation that took place at a meeting of Ukip MEPs this morning that Steven Woolfe subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital. Steven Woolfe, who on Wednesday announced his intention to lead the right-wing UKIP party, collapsed after the incident Thursday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, and remained in hospital overnight into Friday.
An altercation with a fellow UKIP MEP inside the European Parliament leaves UK Independence Party, Member of the European Parliament, and current UKIP party leadership favorite Steven Woolfe hospitalized.