Brexiteers boo elected EU chief
BREXIT Party MEPs booed incoming Brussels chief Ursula von der Leyen yesterday as she vowed to ‘stand ready’ to delay Brexit again.
The German politician told the European Parliament she was open to allowing Britain’s departure to spill over into next year ‘should more time be required’. Her comments sparked heckling in the chamber from Nigel Farage’s 28 Brexit Party MEPs, who want Britain to leave without a deal on October 31.
Pro-Remain Liberal Democrat MEPs also jumped on Ms von der Leyen’s remarks, saying it was proof an extension to hold a second referendum was still possible. The new EU Commission chief also strongly hinted she will not renegotiate Theresa May’s Brexit deal, potentially setting up the next British prime minister for a clash with Brussels.
It came as a vote by MEPs on whether to approve Ms von der Leyen for Brussels’s top job left her credibility in tatters.
A total of 383 MEPs voted for her – a majority of just nine.
Last night, Mr Farage tweeted that the narrow margin left Ms von der Leyen with ‘power but no legitimacy’.
Earlier, after Mr Farage accused her of wanting to ‘take control of every single aspect of our lives’, she said: ‘I think, Mr Farage, we can probably do without what you’ve got to say here.’
Mrs von der Leyen has called for one male and one female nominee from each country for European commissioner roles, but MEP Seán Kelly yesterday said this was not ‘a flier’.
Ireland has already nominated Phil Hogan for a second five-year term as a commissioner.