Nigel Farage gets his way, and last laugh: Brexit is coming
Nigel Farage gets his way, and last laugh: Brexit is coming
![Image](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/79cf03a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2F040c46473e2144b693c80458df2e197a%2F3000.jpeg)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s Brexit Party poses for photographers after speaking on stage at the launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday March 27, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage shares a laugh with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, file)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, welcomes pro-Brexit British politician Nigel Farage, to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss. USA. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
FILE - In this Friday, May 23, 2014 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) poses for the media with a pint of beer in South Benfleet, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 13, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage holds a U.K. flag during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, May 23, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks as he stands outside the polling station at Cudham Primary School in Biggin Hill, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - In this Friday, June 24, 2016 file photo, Nigel Farage, the then leader of the UK Independence Party, celebrates and poses for photographers as he leaves a “Leave.EU” organization party for the British European Union membership referendum in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Britain’s Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Catalonia’s former regional president Carles Puigdemont, left, speaks with British politician Nigel Farage prior to a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. Puigdemont will attend his first session as a member of the European Parliament despite facing an arrest warrant against him in Spain. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
FILE - In this Monday, May 27, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage arrives at the party’s HQ in London, prior to an event to mark the gains his party made in the European elections. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti, File)
![Image](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/79cf03a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2F040c46473e2144b693c80458df2e197a%2F3000.jpeg)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s Brexit Party poses for photographers after speaking on stage at the launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s Brexit Party poses for photographers after speaking on stage at the launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday March 27, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday March 27, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage shares a laugh with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, file)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage shares a laugh with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, file)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, welcomes pro-Brexit British politician Nigel Farage, to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss. USA. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, welcomes pro-Brexit British politician Nigel Farage, to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss. USA. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
FILE - In this Friday, May 23, 2014 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) poses for the media with a pint of beer in South Benfleet, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE - In this Friday, May 23, 2014 file photo, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) poses for the media with a pint of beer in South Benfleet, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 13, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage holds a U.K. flag during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 13, 2019 file photo, former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader and member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage holds a U.K. flag during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, May 23, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks as he stands outside the polling station at Cudham Primary School in Biggin Hill, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, May 23, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks as he stands outside the polling station at Cudham Primary School in Biggin Hill, England. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - In this Friday, June 24, 2016 file photo, Nigel Farage, the then leader of the UK Independence Party, celebrates and poses for photographers as he leaves a “Leave.EU” organization party for the British European Union membership referendum in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - In this Friday, June 24, 2016 file photo, Nigel Farage, the then leader of the UK Independence Party, celebrates and poses for photographers as he leaves a “Leave.EU” organization party for the British European Union membership referendum in London. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Britain’s Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, answers reporters at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Catalonia’s former regional president Carles Puigdemont, left, speaks with British politician Nigel Farage prior to a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. Puigdemont will attend his first session as a member of the European Parliament despite facing an arrest warrant against him in Spain. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Catalonia’s former regional president Carles Puigdemont, left, speaks with British politician Nigel Farage prior to a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. Puigdemont will attend his first session as a member of the European Parliament despite facing an arrest warrant against him in Spain. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
FILE - In this Monday, May 27, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage arrives at the party’s HQ in London, prior to an event to mark the gains his party made in the European elections. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti, File)
FILE - In this Monday, May 27, 2019 file photo, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage arrives at the party’s HQ in London, prior to an event to mark the gains his party made in the European elections. Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, told the Associated Press Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, he is leaving the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg later this week with a sense of mission accomplished. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti, File)
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Nigel Farage, the self-declared “pantomime villain” of Brexit, is leaving his favorite theater — the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg — this week with a sense of mission accomplished.
Ridiculed for years, and thriving on the abuse he got from, and dealt to, pro-EU legislators and politicians, he now feels he got the last laugh. On Jan. 31, the U.K. will be leaving the EU, in a historic loss for the bloc — and a historic gain for the likes of Farage.
“When I first came here, I started saying the U.K. would leave the European Union. Everyone thought it was hilarious,” Farage told The Associated Press in an interview, speaking about his early days in the EU legislature in the late 1990s.
The European Union was still thriving, expanding at the time, and could shrug off a loud and sometimes foul-mouthed British parliamentarian as just a nuisance about to be swatted aside by the force of history of closer integration.
Britain may have been a halfhearted member with rumbling about holding onto sovereignty and complaints about “unelected bureaucraats” from Brussels having too much say in their lives. But thoughts of actually leaving? No. Those were left to fringe politicians like Farage.
Conventional wisdom and expert economic studies galore showed that Britain was better in than out, certainly richer. Yet through the hard years, Farage kept on hitting the same nail of national sovereignty and foreign interference.
On top of that, he said in the plenary that then EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy “had the charisma of a damp rag” and sought to get under everyone skin as much as possible.
The former City of London trader had no shame, and now, no regrets.
“I’ve been the pantomime villain. You know what? People stand up and they will boo. And I shall miss that,” Farage said as he faces a deadline to clean out his office by the end of the week.
His fortunes started turning for good on May 29, 2005 when France, ground zero for further EU integration, stunningly rejected plans for a new EU treaty in a referendum.
It was the show of the people’s power he needed. A master at spreading a populist message, sometimes bordering on xenophobic, slowly the signs of the time were starting to move his way.
He said it was a revolution that could never happen from within. Farage quit the Conservative party early on to co-found the U.K. Independence Party in the early 1990s.
“The British Labour Party and Conservative Party, they would have moaned about bits of European legislation. But the idea of leaving, the idea of secession, would never have been tolerated within those parties,” Farage said.
Sensing the groundswell that Farage had nurtured, the Conservative Party accommodated the anti-EU feelings ever more, and finally relented to a referendum in 2016.
In the final days before the referendum with the outcome anyone’s guess, Farage’s leave campaign produced a poster depicting a stream of immigrants at the border of Britain, with the now infamous words “Breaking Point.”
Savagely criticized for fear-mongering, it didn’t stop Farage from celebrating a massive win.
His whole career has been marked by such bravado.
“I come along and say, ‘excuse me, I’ve got a different point of view.’ They all scream. They all scream: ‘racist, extremist,’” he said. “All I did was to give people an opportunity to express what they really thought”
Now as then, he is watching Brexit happen before his eyes as an outsider. T he job of delivering Brexit falls to the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Farage has railed from the sidelines against striking too close a relationship with the EU, and formed a new party, the Brexit Party, to press for a clean-break departure. The party failed to win any seats in last month’s U.K. parliamentary election.
With Strasbourg doors slammed behind him, he should still attend a final mini-session in Brussels on Jan. 29 when the EU legislature will vote on Brexit, two days before the exit.
Many have taken credit for making Brexit happen, and so does Farage.
“No, if I hadn’t been here, we would not be leaving,” he said.
___
Jill Lawless contributed to this report from London.
___
Follow AP’s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://www.apnews.com/Brexit