Nigel Farage dumps fishing Thames in protest at Brexit transition

Nigel Farage today dumped fish into the River Thames to protest at Britain’s ‘capitulation’ to Brussels over the Brexit transition deal.

The former Ukip leader boarded the little fishing vessel as it sailed down the river and hurled to crates of haddock into the water as they bobbed in front of Parliament.

He joined fishermen and Brexiteers in staging the stunt, which was done to protest at the transition deal which keeps control of the UK’s waters with the EU for another 19 months. 

But the protest almost hit the skids when the fishing boat was not allowed to dock at Embankment harbour because it did not have permission.

While Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg – who had at first been expected to board the vessel – did not, although he was there to greet it.

Mr Farage said Theresa May’s Government did not have the ‘guts’ to stand up to the EU.

Nigel Farage today dumped fish into the River Thames to protest at Britain’s ‘capitulation’ to Brussels over the Brexit transition deal.

Mr Farage joined fishermen and Brexiteers in staging the stunt, which was done to protest at the transition deal which keeps control of the UK's waters with the EU for another 19 months.

Mr Farage joined fishermen and Brexiteers in staging the stunt, which was done to protest at the transition deal which keeps control of the UK’s waters with the EU for another 19 months.

The former Ukip leader boarded the little fishing vessel as it sailed down the river and hurled to crates of haddock into the water as they bobbed in front of Parliament.

The former Ukip leader boarded the little fishing vessel as it sailed down the river and hurled to crates of haddock into the water as they bobbed in front of Parliament.

He said: ‘They told us they would take back control in 2019 – that is not happening. We are now told at the start of 2021 it may happen.

‘I don’t think this Government has got the guts or the strength to stand up and take back our territorial waters.’

Mr Rees-Mogg said he thinks the Government’s deal is a mistake as fishermen had been told they would regain control of Britain’s  fishing waters immediately after the UK quits the EU in March next year. 

He said: ‘I think it’s a mistake – and that I think is the right word to use.

‘I think betrayal is too emotional a word. But we heard from a government minister just a few days before the agreement was signed that fishing quotas would come back under our control on the 31 March and therefore that change in a few days is certainly a mistake.’

Asked directly if he was told not to get on the boat by the PM, he said: ‘No of course not.’

But the protest was branded a ‘farce’ by critics after the fishing boat was not allowed to dock at Embankment harbour to let Mr Rees-Mogg and Tory My Craig MacKinlay board.

The boat had to continue up the river as the press and political supporters sprinted up the street to keep up with it.

It then managed to stop further along the river where Mr Farage – who famously commandeered a boat on the Thames during the EU referendum campaign to call for Brexit – boarded.

A handful of MPs were waiting to greet the boat from the terrace of the House of Commons – with Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne there with a union  jack flag.

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured with fellow Tory MPs Craig MacKinlay and Anne-Marie  Trevelyan) said he thinks the Government's deal is a mistake as fishermen had been told they would regain control of Britain's fishing waters immediately after the UK quits the EU in March next year

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured with fellow Tory MPs Craig MacKinlay and Anne-Marie  Trevelyan) said he thinks the Government’s deal is a mistake as fishermen had been told they would regain control of Britain’s fishing waters immediately after the UK quits the EU in March next year

But they drifted away once they heard no Tory MPs were aboard and that Mr Farage was dumping the fish.    

Best for Britain spokesman Paul Butters said: ‘The Brexiteers are lost at sea with a stupid stunt like this. Today’s comedy of errors is a metaphor for their Brexit plans.

‘This was most embarrassing event to grace Westminster since the Leadsom for Leader march.

‘The people who wanted Brexit are literally polluting the place with their never-ending complaint that it wasn’t exactly what they wanted. 

‘They have had years to plan and the combined brain power of Rees Mogg and his motley crew came up with the idea of this stunt, circling round in the Thames unable to pick people up because they didn’t have the necessary permissions.

‘Taking back control from faceless bureaucrats maybe needs to start with Transport for London who run the pier they tried to dock at. 

‘All in all this was a fishing farce that made them all look ridiculous.’ 



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