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Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof clash in rival EU referendum flotillas Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof's rival EU referendum flotillas clash on the Thames
(35 minutes later)
Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof have clashed in the middle of the Thames in rival flotillas campaigning for and against remaining in the European Union.Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof have clashed in the middle of the Thames in rival flotillas campaigning for and against remaining in the European Union.
The rock star charity fundraiser was on board a pleasure cruiser that pulled alongside a boat Farage had commandeered to lead a flotilla of fishermen campaigning to leave the European Union when he harangued the Ukip leader over loudspeakers cranked up to maximum volume. The rock star charity fundraiser was on board a pleasure cruiser that pulled alongside a boat Farage had commandeered to lead a flotilla of fishermen campaigning to leave the EU when he harangued the Ukip leader over loudspeakers cranked up to maximum volume.
After blasting “I’m in With the In Crowd” over a rig of four loudspeakers, Geldof took the mic and declared: “Nigel, you are a fraud.” The leave campaigners on the boat with Farage, including the millionaire pro-Brexit funder Arron Banks, tried to shout back: “Shame on you,” but were drowned out. After blasting the song I’m in with the In Crowd over a rig of four loudspeakers, Geldof took the mic and declared: “Nigel, you are a fraud.” The leave campaigners on the boat with Farage, including the millionaire pro-Brexit funder Arron Banks, tried to shout back “Shame on you”, but were drowned out.
Geldof attacked Farage as “no fisherman’s friend” as Farage stood at the prow of his boat facing the other way talking to Kate Hoey, the Labour leave campaigner. Geldof’s sonic assault successfully drowned out Farage’s broadcast interviews.Geldof attacked Farage as “no fisherman’s friend” as Farage stood at the prow of his boat facing the other way talking to Kate Hoey, the Labour leave campaigner. Geldof’s sonic assault successfully drowned out Farage’s broadcast interviews.
Geldof said: “Here are the facts about fishing. Britain makes more money than any other country in Europe from fishing. Two, Britain has the second largest quota for fishing in Europe after Denmark. Three, Britain has the third largest landings. Fourth, you are no fisherman’s friend.”Geldof said: “Here are the facts about fishing. Britain makes more money than any other country in Europe from fishing. Two, Britain has the second largest quota for fishing in Europe after Denmark. Three, Britain has the third largest landings. Fourth, you are no fisherman’s friend.”
As Farage’s flotilla of 12 fishing boats proceeded upstream to Westminster, he attacked Geldof’s intervention afterwards as “ignorant” and “insulting”.As Farage’s flotilla of 12 fishing boats proceeded upstream to Westminster, he attacked Geldof’s intervention afterwards as “ignorant” and “insulting”.
“He doesn’t know anything about the common fisheries policy,” he told the Guardian. “You can’t reform it from within. You can’t change it. There is nothing you can do apart from leave.” “He doesn’t know anything about the common fisheries policy,” the Ukip leader told the Guardian. “You can’t reform it from within. You can’t change it. There is nothing you can do apart from leave.”
Asked about the barrage of noise, he said: “It’s just insulting to these people. Some of these lads have come from the north of Scotland, communities that have never been listened to, where we have seen tens of thousands of jobs lost and a way of life destroyed, and they come here to make their protest and be heard and they get a multimillionaire laughing at them. Horrible, disgusting.” Asked about the barrage of noise, he said: “It’s just insulting to these people. Some of these lads have come from the north of Scotland, communities that have never been listened to, where we have seen tens of thousands of jobs lost and a way of life destroyed, and they come here to make their protest and be heard, and they get a multimillionaire laughing at them. Horrible, disgusting.”
The battle between the rival fleets later intensified when fishermen claimed they boarded Geldof’s boat “to tell him the truth”. Another vessel in the pro-Brexit fishing fleet also directed its hoses at Geldof’s boat.
The pro-Brexit fishing fleet of 12 vessels carried fishermen from Peterhead, Berwick, Brixham, Ramsgate and Faversham. A rusty fishing trawler called Wayward Lad with nets hanging off the back pulled up alongside Geldof’s boat, the Sarpedon, and apparently collected a fisherman who had been on board.
The nautical skirmishes came outside the Palace of Westminster and saw police boats attempt to intervene. Parliamentarians looked on from the terraces of the Commons and the Lords, and three helicopters, including a police helicopter, hovered above.
Geldof said to Farage over his boat’s sound system: “We wish these hardworking families all the best but you ain’t the man for the job, dude. Go downriver.”