Attack by Brit on EU Council President

[Matilda]

This news item just came through here today - an extraordinary verbal attack in the EU Parliament by the British
MEP Nick Farage:

"The British have sent many loud-mouthed yobs to Europe over the years - rampaging football hooligans, drunken stag party revellers - but Nigel Farage, leader of the UKIP MEPs, takes the crown after his performance yesterday.

Already known in Brussels for his brash and abrasive style, Farage launched a scathing personal attack on the new President of the EU Council, Herman van Rompuy, in the European Parliament, one which left MEPs reeling in shock at its sheer nastiness.

"Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Farage proclaimed. He said van Rompuy had the "charisma of a damp rag" and compared him to a "low-grade bank clerk". For good measure he also insulted the EU President's homeland, saying Belgium was "pretty much a non-country".

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/60172,news-comment,news-politics,nigel-farage-rudest-man-in-europe-hits-out-at-damp-rag-eu-leader-herman-van-rompuy-video


It may well be a true statement, but dare I ask: Who is Nick Farage? And what does he do when he's not shouting
abuse in the European Parliament?

[Hopeless Romantic]

1. He made one good point though...

Who voted for you? he asked.

[Matilda]

2. Oh, yes, I agree his points have merit,

although his behaviour leaves a bit to be desired. I think this guy was only put there to keep Tony Blair out -
anybody would do as long as it wasn't Tony.

But who is Nick Farage? I've never heard of him either.

[T_i_B]

3. Farage is faily prominent in the UK

He is the former leader of the UK Independence Party, and still their most prominent politician. UKIP came second in the European Parliament elections, polling more then Labour last time out under his leadership so he's not unknown in the UK.

[Hopeless Romantic]

4. I thought that was Nigel.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. It is Nigel - Matilda just wrote Nick by mistake, I think

In the body of the quote, it says Nigel.

[Hopeless Romantic]

6. probably confusing him with Griffin

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Belgium replies:

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. any concern about the undemocratic nature of the EU

is drowned out by a petty nationalist and xenophobic rant.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Nigel Farage is a right-wing ex-Tory who left the party to become one of the founders of UKIP

He has described Britain's three main parties as indistinguishable 'social democrat' parties and is a generally gung-ho right-winger.

'And what does he do when he's not shouting abuse in the European Parliament?'

Rides the EU gravy train, of course, just like the other Eurosceptic MEPs! He has come under criticism for his expenses claims.

N.B. UKIP is the United Kingdom Independence Party. It is supposedly a single-issue Eurosceptic party, but really mainly a refuge for right-wing ex-Tories who think that their former party has gone soft since Maggie resigned.

[Matilda]

10. Apologies for getting his name wrong -

yes, I was thinking of Nick Griffin.

While I certainly don't think much of van Rompuy, it is a bit off for
an MEP to speak to the president of the parliament in such a way.

Farage comes across as the kind of bully-boy that people everywhere
love to hate, and it's not really a surprise to find that he's an
arch-conservative. I'm generally not very au fait with the workings
of the EU Parliament, and I have to confess the only person I knew of
was Nick Griffin - his election even made the news here.

Thanks for the info.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Farage has been fined 10 days' allowances

You may not think that's much, but MEPs are on a huge gravy train, so it's more than most people earn in a month:

Nigel Farage has been fined 10 days' MEP allowances – about £2,700 – following his attack on the credentials of the European council president, Herman van Rompuy, last week.

The Ukip MEP was today summoned to see the European parliament's president, Jerzy Buzek, who demanded that he apologise to Belgium, its people and its former prime minister for his remarks.

When Farage refused, Buzek said he was considering sanctions, including possible suspension from the chamber, against him.

Farage used his Twitter page to declare: "Sentence passed, letter from parliament. President: Maximum allowable fine 2,980 euros. Free speech is expensive in Brussels." He said he would appeal against the fine.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/02/nigel-farage-fined-mep-rompuy