1. Nigel Farage seemed to suggest that the existence of the EU is going to end in conflict, as extremists rise in popularity across the union. This seems bizarre to me, when the very existence of the EU is perhaps the largest reason why Western Europe has enjoyed the longest period of peace in its history - no conflicts in 70 years between members of the Union.
Isn't this completely wrong headed?
2. Nigel Farage made a lot last night that the EU trade negotiations lie in the hands of an unelected Dutchman. Which is fine. Except Farage is wrong. He is Karel de Gucht. And he is Belgian.
That doesn't make any difference to the point Farage was making of course. But it does again show his lack of attention to detail. And also a curious failing that he's not that great on what should be his specialist subject. In the Channel 4 film about him the other night, he was shown unsuccessfully trying to find how own office in the Parliament. Maybe he's not going there enough?
3. Farage is privately educated, a former stockbroker, an elected politician and his party is largely funded by a handful of millionaires. Yet he positions himself as anti establishment - and does it very well. But he's not anti establishment. He's the opposite. So why isn't he called on this?
He wasn't a stockbroker, he was a commodities trader.
ReplyDelete"attention to detail"
In the CH4 documentary, when they got lost he wasn't trying to find his office. As I remember it he was just doing a bit of a guided tour / exploring, the purpose of which was to demonstrate that the EU bureaucracy is a massive sprawling beast.
Farage is anti-establishment. The leaders of the three main parties all attended Oxbridge then went straight into politics. Farage went to Dulwich College then instead of going to university he got a job. He even ran his own business at one point. By comparison, the other leaders have a very narrow life experience to draw upon AND IT SHOWS. They seem like overgrown students who have never really grown up.
His policies are anti-establishment. The three main parties want us to stay in the EU. He wants us to leave. They are all happy to have an open door border policy. He wants us to control our own borders. Etc etc. There are many many policy areas where the three main parties all share the same view, therefore without UKIP, we the voters would have no choice.
If you don't like UKIP, just vote for one of the other parties. Take your pick. They're all pretty much the same.