Britain's largest group of MEPs (UKIP) turn their backs at EU opening ceremony

The pictures are just being posted as I type this a few minutes ago, apparently the MEPs are all standing to the orchestra playing the EU 'anthem' as the EU 'parliament' opens today while they all look on at the star spangled sphincter EU flag. If any videos emerge of today on the floor fo the chamber I will post them once they're up later on.

Excellent to see though, it's exactly the reason I voted UKIP in the European Elections. Looking forward to lots more trouble.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrcbliCIIAAcU0F.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrccGllIEAAnGPP.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrcavZ_IYAA3puO.jpg

It looks like too (from pictures I have seen) that Farage has kept his front row seat right next to the EU Commission President as he was able to form a parliamentary group again, if so then he'll have a front seat up against the incoming Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Edit: Here's what the only remaining Liberal Democrat MEP had to say, with a reply in from a Ukip MEP.....

http://www.ezimba.com/work/140701C/e...0025423800.png

Handbags at the ready. :P

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Brck0CNCcAECfSl.jpg

http://www.breitbart.com/mediaserver...EA061AED3C.jpg

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-L...ening-ceremony

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Raheem Kassam, Breitbart London

The UK Independence Party's new Members of the European Parliament have turned their backs on the official ceremonies of the opening of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, according to reports on social networking website Twitter.

Most of the party's 24 MEPs are believed to have taken part in the protest, standing up and turning their backs while the theme tune to the European Union was played: Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

It is effectively a 'theme tune' (or maybe even a 'loony tune') since there is no official anthem of the EU – and attempts to create one were slapped down during the course of the drafting of the Lisbon Treaty.

The Liberal Democrats' only remaining MEP Catherine Bearder tweeted, "Shocking disrespect from UKIP and others to turn back on orchestra at opening ceremony," though she did not say who the lack of respect was for. Presumably, she meant the European Union. As a representative of the United Kingdom, the fact that Bearder may be forgetting where her loyalties should lie so early in this parliamentary session is disconcerting.

Newly elected MEP Janice Atkinson even tweeted a picture of her spoiled ballot paper, showing that she approves of none of the candidates for the president of the European Parliament.

UKIP Deputy leader Paul Nuttall MEP told Breitbart London: "We don't recognise or respect the EU flag or anthem. They are both symbols of our servitude inside a political union which the British people reject.

"We will do everything we can in European Parliament to oppose the Federalist system which ignores our national democracy and pushes millions of people across Europe into poverty and unemployment. We stand up for our people, not the EU flag and anthem.

"National democracy and EU membership are incompatible. We will do everything we can to free ourselves from this corrupt institution."

---

I'm surprised they even turned up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kardan

I'm surprised they even turned up.

---

I doubt they refused their pay checks though...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Don

I doubt they refused their pay checks though...

---

Well apparently you get money for clocking in (from what I have read in the past), which you don't get if you don't turn up.

But very happy about forming a group with Beppe Grillo in the parliament this year, gives UKIP access to a few million quid in extra funding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

Well apparently you get money for clocking in (from what I have read in the past), which you don't get if you don't turn up.

But very happy about forming a group with Beppe Grillo in the parliament this year, gives UKIP access to a few million quid in extra funding.

---

The money they get for clocking in is in addition to money they get regardless of attendance.

Turning around, that'll show 'em

I'm amazed at how disgusted people are by the MEPs. The reason they were voted in was because they're anti-EU and this sort of behaviour just proves that they're anti-EU. What's not to expect? The only problem with these MEPs is that they don't show up and use this as a reason to show they're anti-EU when actually if they maybe turned up they could voice their constituents' concerns rather than just take the money and run.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Turning around, that'll show 'em

---

Oh it will, the EU hates any kind of opposition to the project because by now we're all supposed to have accepted it as fait accompli. It reminds me much of the same way the EU had a double take when then-Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, gave a speech to the European 'parliament' which upset the lot of them apart from the Ukip delegation and some other groups.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljAANHPkrAE

The pressure will be kept up, we've got seats on the committees and group speaking time + funding.