How about Sir Nigel of the Lorry Parks?
IT’S early Christmas time for Nigel Farage, provided Mr Johnson doesn’t have to cancel it!
Two recent correspondents have again suggested that Mr
Farage receive a knighthood (or a baronetcy) Were he to kneel before the Queen he would need to choose a phrase to complete his title as all other Lords do; how about Sir Nigel of Destructive Self-interest? Or Sir Nigel of Who Cares a Jot about the Future of UK Young People?
Such a possibility makes a farce of any honours list, since the list should be of honourable people.
Mr Farage and the financial backer behind UKIP lauded themselves as “the bad boys of Brexit” which gives us a useful understanding of the man. Hypocrisy in litres – though he is a “Man of the People” we must not let him pull his old school tie over our eyes: Public school educated who, just like the rest of us, spent 20 years in the City trading in metals, and who is entitled to a European pension for the rest of his life.
When last calculated, this was around £75,000pa. To allow himself such a sum from an institution that he hates...! How many UKIP/Brexit Party voters are blessed with such a chunk of Euros? Leading by example I guess.
He stood for election seven times in England and failed each time; I guess waving a fag/flag and some beer didn’t cut the mustard with those who saw him close up. One of his more recent political meetings was for men only! Nigel certainly does want to take us back to the good old days!
Why, having persuaded us that there was only ONE thing wrong with the modern world (UK membership of the EU) did he take himself off to the US to spend time with his buddy pal President Trump?
Surely a worthy (even if unelectable) leader should stay in his country providing calm influence rather than rubbing shoulders with immense wealth?
And Nigel still wants a No Deal even though the CBI and 71 other organisations, representing seven million workers, have just implored the Government to reach a deal immediately with the EU to prevent total economic chaos.
As your correspondents insist, Mr N was significant in bringing about Brexit but apparently has not a care about the resulting damage.
Plymouth and Exeter are very near the top of the list of UK cities with the strongest trade ties with the EU but if their economies slide further down next year, give him a knighthood.
As for Ms Batten, leader of UK farming: her views on a No Deal and its effect on UK food and agriculture are very clear; never mind, give him a gong.
And it is UK young people who couldn’t vote in the Referendum (and the great majority pro-Remain 18 to 25-year-olds who did) who will pay the gravest price for Nigel’s knighthood.
His No Deal will mean far greater unemployment for them, even though this problem is already spiralling up. From next January on, and for at least a decade, they will find it far more difficult to get jobs in Europe or to study there.
Even taking a holiday in Spain, according to Nigel’s heavenly future, will mean the joy of waiting in the non-EU line at the airport. Even us older voters will have many causes to thank him.
The list of the negatives he has helped to create goes on and on. But his children have joint UK/German nationality so there’s no problem.
On second thoughts, perhaps his best title would be “Sir Nigel of the Lorry Parks”.
Jeremy Hall Crockernwell, Exeter