On Monday 1 February 2016, more than 100 people gathered at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg-Kirchberg to hear MEP and leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) Nigel Farage speak on why Britain should leave the European Union, ahead of the important referendum which UK Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested could take place as early as June 2016.
A Eurosceptic, Nigel Farage has been a strong advocate of a so-called 'Brexit', joining certain MPs such as Conservative Tom Pursglove, Labour's Kate Hoey and DUP MP Sammy Wilson in establishing the Grassroots Out (GO) campaign to encourage an exit from the European Union.
Nigel Farage was joined by moderator and Luxembourg MEP Frank Engel for the debate, which was organised by the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg. Taking to the stage to open proceedings, Mr. Engel stated "I don't share his views, but I do think he should be able to share his views", referring to Ukip's 3.8m votes in the last election as evidence that the notion of Great Britain being independent from the EU "carries weight".
Mr. Engel pointed to the unique nature of the event, in terms of a Eurosceptic voicing his opinions in front of a packed audience in one of the founding countries of the European Union, explaining that "this might be something we understand badly here where being part of the EU has been on the agenda for a long time".
Nigel Farage then took to the podium, explaining that this was not the first time he had come to Luxembourg to give a talk and referring to his speech made at the Grand Duchy's only 'No' rally campaign against the creation of a consolidated constitution for the European Union in 2004. He stated that the Netherlands and France were opposed to the Constitutional Treaty, as was 44% of the Luxembourg population, although the press was largely in favour. This led him to comment that no nation "has ever given its consent to a group of old men" to control its borders and its democracy.
He then "half thanked" the British Chamber of Commerce for inviting him to speak at the event, claiming that the event invite had designated him as 'anti-European' to which he declared "I am pro European!" and claiming his children having dual nationality and being bilingual as evidence thereof. He spoke of Europe's diversity, stating "Vive la différence" and commenting that he held no issue with older conceptualisations of Europe, but rather objected to "Europe with a flag" and a president.
He claimed that "we've got something that masquerades as being Europe" but is not representative, deeming the upcoming referendum as a "golden opportunity to take back our birthright, make our own deals, form our own friendships". Flying in the face of arguments put forward by 'Stay' campaigns which have defended Britain's position within the EU as necessary for the UK's maintenance of its global status, Mr. Farage alleged that Brexit would present bigger opportunities for the rest of the EU as well and that, conversely, the implications of UK withdrawal would be more significant for the bloc than Britain.
Going one step further, he once again referred to the French and the Dutch vote no to the Constitution for Europe, claiming that they were ignored and the Constitution "rebranded as the Lisbon Treaty". "I don't just want Britain out of the European Union, I want Europe out of the EU," he declared.
Nigel Farage then cited President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, as among those who have inadvisedly "believed in the European project for this long". He claimed that this false faith was entrenched in the mistaken belief that it was the existence of individual nation states that led to World War II, even going so far as to refer to Mr. Juncker's father who was conscripted to the Wehrmacht after Luxembourg was occupied. He contradicted this notion by stating that it was "the absence of democracy" rather than the presence of independent states which incurred war, repeating several times "I cannot find a single historical example of two mature democracies going to war against each other."
Continuing, he took issue with the idea that EU citizens were not able to have a say in legislation and "sack a government" if they so wished, deeming it undemocratic and demanding "I want my nation to be self-governing".
Whilst not tackling specific examples of arguments made, Mr. Farage dismissed cases put forward in favour of remaining in the EU as largely made "by giant multinationals", even though recent YouGov figures hves shown that Britons are on average almost evenly split in the decision at 51% to remain in the EU and 49% to leave. Claiming that Britain regaining its independence if it were to leave would be "undoubted", Mr. Farage however admitted that the economics of the matter were "less certain". Those arguing for staying have claimed that EU membership makes trade easier and creates more stability for Britain, whilst Nigel Farage contested that the same belief was held about joining the Euro, stating that the Britain's non-presence in the Eurozone "has been a great advantage to us". "I want the UK to have ability to negotiate its own trade deals on the world stage," Mr. Farage commented, protesting against arguments upheld by figures such as former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that Britain would not be strong enough on its own.
Following Nigel Farage's speech, MEP Frank Engel conceded "Britain leaving the EU would not be the end of the world for either" and would not necessarily involve the EU cutting off trade with Britain, but did not offer much further protest in favour of remaining in the EU in comparison to Mr. Farage's staunch anti-EU comments. He did however put forward that certain EU trade regulations and treaties that have benefitted Europe's economy, as well as individuals.
During a Q&A follow-up, Nigel Farage responded to the question of reinventing the EU to make it stronger rather than breaking away from it for good by claiming that the opportunity for that to happen had passed, and that attempts to "democratise the EU" would not culminate in reform but rather "more power at the centre" and that "we wouldn't see power handed back to Member States, it will be the reverse".
Continuing, he said that the European Union "project doesn't work", asserting that allowing "former communist states" in to the EU had been a "mistake" and "you want to continue this lunacy by letting in Turkey." He was also of the opinion that the Euro cannot work, and cited the "third fundamental problem" as being what he termed the "oh come all ye faithful" approach to migration adopted by Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Comparing the recent influx to the cork of a champagne bottle which cannot be replugged, he alleged "the migrant tide which has now begun is basically impossible to stop".
When asked "...but are we not all migrants?" Nigel Farage claimed that the UK was no longer in possession of a "proper migration policy that recognised the debt to former colonies" and instead based itself on an "open door policy" which he commented had led to a record net migration for the UK earlier this year of a third of a million. He advocated the Australian system, describing it thusly: "We want people with trades and skills to come to Australia. If you've got a criminal record we don't want you. That is exactly what I want".
Once again blaming the influx from southern and eastern European countries as "a massive drain on the economy", Mr. Farage sparked debate with Mr. Enkel, with the latter contrarily commenting "We need to assuage people's fears that they will be overrun". Mr. Farage argued that anyone arriving in Britain and earning less than £28,000 was "not bringing anything", and that "the unlimited flow of people has been an error".
Asked about the increasing apathy amongst British voters, Mr. Farage attributed it to the EU holding the power and general elections meaning "you're voting for a change of management rather than a change of government". He claimed that the British influence in Brussels was "tiny", whilst Mr. Enkel stated that Britain held better representation that Germany.
Summarising, Mr. Enkel commented on the importance of holding such a debate and allowing different voices to be heard rather than pretending that they do not exist. "One either agrees or does not," he concluded simply.
Photos by Sarah Graham
