What's happening in the European Parliament today is a kind of theatre.
The Commission and Council, responsible for the negotiation process, play with a
straight bat. They speak of the things I spoke of happening after Brexit, of
finding a new way to work with the UK. Although unelected, Juncker has real
power. Therefore he has responsibility.
The European Parliament has less power, and therefore less
responsibility. The leaders of the political groups can say whatever they want,
because they know it makes no difference. And they do. All of their anger at
British democracy comes out. They all say they respect the UK decision, then
proceed to attack and disrespect it.
Remain was based upon truth; Leave, upon lies, according to them. Only
Syed Kamall, the Conservative leader and Brexiteer, speaks with any kind of
balance.
More political groups speak, more attacks and nastiness towards Brexit
whilst paying lip-service to democracy.
And then, finally, up stands Nigel Farage. He rises to boos from the
chamber and shouts of 'Out'. Even Schulz intervenes.
How things have changed! When Nigel Farage first said he wanted to leave,
they laughed - but they're not laughing now.
The European Parliament is in denial, he insists. It is in denial over
the migrant crisis. But the biggest problem is that the British people were
never told the truth about political union. Referendum results in Holland and
France were ignored.
Last Thursday was a seismic result, he tells us. The ordinary, oppressed,
people rejected the multinationals, the merchant banks and big politics. They
wanted our fishing grounds, our borders and our democracy
back.
We now offer a beacon of hope to democrats across the European
continent.
But Nigel Farage agrees with Juncker that we must get on with Article 50.
And the tone must be different.
Schulz has to calm the chamber down again; he accuses the Parliament of
'acting like UKIP'. Nigel says UKIP used to protest against the establishment,
reverse is now true.
Trade, he tells us, matters. Tariffs would threaten the jobs of hundreds
of thousands in the German car industry. We need the UK to be friends of Europe
and to co-operate.
Indeed we do; today has been emotional for those who are seeing their
European federalist dream going up in smoke. But ultimately both sides need a
good deal and good neighbourliness.
