02/07/2014

Farage Leads Silent Protest At EU Parliament

Nigel Farage has led his UKIP MEPs in a silent protest against the European Parliament – at the opening of its new session in Strasbourg.

An orchestra, also in attendance at the session, was playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the EU's unofficial anthem, when the MEPs turned their backs.

It is thought a majority of the party's members took part in the protest.

A number also took to social networking site Twitter to voice their protests.

One UKIP member, who has been newly-elected, tweeted: "Don't recognise flag nor anthem."

Another, Janice Atkinson, who represents South East England, shared a photo of a spoiled ballot paper for the election of the Parliament's next President. On the piece of paper, she had written "none of the above" beside the selected candidates.

The actions of the UKIP members were criticised by other MEPs in attendance.

Catherine Bearder, from the Liberal Democrats, wrote on Twitter: "Shocking disrespect from UKIP and others to turn back on orchestra at opening ceremony."

(CVS/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 September 2013
UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom Quits Party EU Group
Godfrey Bloom has announced that he is quitting the UKIP European group to see out the remainder of his term as an independent. Bloom lost the party whip last week following controversy over a joke that referred to female UKIP activists as "sluts".
06 February 2015
UKIP Leader Cancels Appearance After Protest
UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, has cancelled a public appearance in Rotherham because of protesting outside his party's office. Mr Farage was to cut a ribbon on the party's new headquarters, however police advised him to stay in the office. He has been accused of "rubber-necking" at victims of child abuse following a damning report.
29 February 2008
Pass-Holder Questioned Over Parliament Protest
A Parliamentary pass-holder has been questioned in connection with this week's rooftop protest at Parliament. The 26-year-old man, who is believed to have worked for members of the Commons and the House of Lords, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting a criminal offence of trespass on Thursday evening.
27 February 2008
Parliament Roof Protest Ends
A protest on the roof of Parliament over Heathrow expansion plans has ended. A number of protestors breached security at the Houses of Parliament and climbed on to the roof, next to Big Ben, on Wednesday morning. The activists, who were protesting about expansion plans at Heathrow Airport, unfurled banners, one of which read 'No 3rd Runway'.
13 March 2007
Campaigners in Parliament anti-Trident protest
Four Greenpeace campaigners have scaled a crane beside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster in order to protest about the government's plans to update the Trident nuclear weapons system. The activists then unfurled a 50ft banner saying 'Tony Blair loves WMD'.