1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Farage: 'The Europe project is now dying'

Bruce KonviserJuly 6, 2016

Sentiment for leaving the EU is running high in Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Italy. Nigel Farage is reveling in the prospect that a united Europe appears to be unraveling.

Großbritannien Nigel Farage Rücktritt
Image: picture alliance/ZUMA Press/P. Maclaine

Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Nigel Farage - the original advocate, if not the final architect, of Britain's exit from the European Union - said that Britain's departure will be good for the average British voter. He also maintained that the European Union would be foolish not to negotiate a mutually beneficial trade deal with a sovereign UK and insisted he had no regrets about resigning as leader of Britain's right-wing populist party, which he founded.

"What was achieved on June 23 was a remarkable victory for the little people," Farage told a press conference on Wednesday, referring to Britain's nationwide referendum, in which voters chose to leave the EU by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.

He called the result irreversible, and said there's no turning back, even though there is talk of another referendum.

"The result is the result we're not going to have a rematch," he said. "We are going to leave the EU and get back our sovereignty."

His decision to resign as leader of the United Kingdom's Independent Party (UKIP) is not an indication of any past regrets or fears about the future. On the contrary, he said, he hopes to spread his separatist message across Europe.

"Our result offers a beacon of hope to movements right across the European Union," he said, ticking off Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Italy as countries with growing support for leaving the EU.

"Nothing will ever be the same again, the European project is now dying," he intoned.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage standing down

00:57

This browser does not support the video element.

Farage's bizarre claim

In choosing to step down as the UKIP leader, Farage added, bizarrely, "I'm not a career politician," he said, "I've done my bit." This despite being a Member of the European Parliament since 1999, and a founding member of UKIP in 1993.

He poured doubt on the prospects of Scotland leaving the UK for the EU, even though the Scottish electorate voted to "Remain" and Scottish leaders are openly considering ways to stay in the EU.

"Would she really want a separation from the UK," he asked rhetorically. "I don't think she would, I feel pretty confident in that."

He added that Scotland prospered when oil was selling at more than $110 (99 euros) per barrel. But with oil prices now under $50 per barrel Farage said Scotland is better off in the UK.

Asked about the rhetoric and methods used by the so-called Brexit camp in the run-up to the referendum, which many have characterized as a series of distortions and lies, Farage pointed a finger of blame at the Remain camp.

"No one made a positive argument for the political union," he said, "If they had they would have lost by more."

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW