UKIP MEP went too far in abuse of Belgium

UKIP’s ex-Leader deserved his recent £2,700 fine for abusive language according to a North West Euro-MP.

Nigel Farage MEP has been docked £2,700 in expenses for an attack he launched against Herman van Rompuy in the European Parliament last week. 

He described the President of the European Council as having the appearance of a "low grade bank clerk" and claimed that his nation, Belgium, was "pretty much a non-country."

British soldiers fought for Belgium’s freedom in two world wars and the countries have been allied since the early 1800’s.

North West Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said:

“Farage's rudeness diminished himself.  He portrayed the people of the United Kingdom as arrogant bullies. 

“He also showed no respect to the memory of British soldiers who died in two world wars liberating Belgium.”

Farage refused a request from the President (Speaker) of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, to withdraw his words. 

Buzek, an activist for the Solidarity movement in Poland during the 1980s, said:

"I attach the highest importance to freedom of speech.  I fought for decades in my own country for such freedom.  However, I do not believe that freedom of speech in the Parliament can extend to insulting other persons, especially guests speaking at our own invitation in the chamber.  The very foundation of parliamentarianism and democracy is that freedom of expression should respect others."

Davies said:

“When Buzek talks about free speech his words carry more genuine substance than all the rants and ravings of UKIP's former leader.”