Nigel Farage's Diary

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• Flying the UKIP flag in Buckingham
• The battle of Lisbon begins
• In the EU's Britain, no good deed goes unpunished
• Vaclav Klaus: the man of the moment
• Something to cheer about at the EP!
• A girl called Hannah
• Britain, the EU and the Dalai Lama
• No time for a novice Trade Commissioner
• Crisis management Brussels-style

The battle of Lisbon begins

Monday, 27th July 2009

I returned to Strasbourg on July 13 for the start of my third – yes, third! – term as a UKIP MEP.

The 13-strong UKIP complement was to join up with seven other nationalities in the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group.

As we arrived in the building it was utter chaos. MEPs had to queue for over an hour just to get their office keys. There was heavy muttering in the ranks about inefficiency, not from me though, I expected it.

As a means of being helpful, the parliament services have scattered UKIP MEPs throughout more than one building. We can expect no favours here.

I had dinner with two Lithuanian MEPS, one the former President Rolandas Paskas, Now the EFD group is made up of 32 members from nine states, so a good start to the week.

Seating in the chamber

To my astonishment, the seating plan for our group in the chamber is the shape of a camembert slice, putting me in seat 20 on the front bench.

My seat is next to Jose Manuel Barosso, that could be fun!

As I sit down, I really feel like Daniel in the lions' den. The session beings and they play the European anthem. All around me they stand, ramrod straight. I continued to sit down, arms crossed, as do all the UKIP MEPs. Next to me is Timothy Kirkthorpe, the leader of the new Conservatives and Reformists group. He stands for the anthem, aren't the Tories wonderful!

The first act is to elect a new President and Jerzy Buzek from Poland wins by a landslide. On my ballot paper I wrote 'UKIP' and it was one of 69 spoiled papers.
The time for speeches had begun with the new president emphasising the need for the Lisbon Treaty.

Each group leader spoke, the usual self-congratulatory blather was order of the day. I used my three minutes to give notice that we would help the Irish people by telling them the truth about the so-called 'guarantees' they have been given. I said they were not worth the paper they were printed on and were an attempt to con the Irish people. I also referred to the parade that took place the previous afternoon where uniformed soldiers of Euro Corps paraded the EU flag around the courtyard, describing it as the EU version of trooping of the colour.

"You're not even pretending anymore," I said. "This is to be a militarised state."
As I finished, the booing and jeering became louder, but also a reasonable degree of applause.

We are in for a lively time and I am now the pantomime villain!

Mr Barosso and the flags

On morning two there was a debate about the Czech six-month presidency of the European Council.

As I arrived I saw Sr Barroso and a bank of cameras. I walked to the front and plonked on my desk a Union Jack flag, which diverted the cameras' attention.

During the debate, many speakers emphasised the importance of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. They really badly want this treaty.

I used my time to directly attack Barroso over his refusal to accept the French , Dutch and Irish referendum results saying that he is an enemy of democracy.

All of this face-to-face within a few feet of him. He looked very uncomfortable. When I finished, Barroso rose on a point of order, I had never seen this before.

He asked the President whether it was allowed for MEPs to display national flags and if it was he would fly his. He then produced an EU flag and put it on his desk.

So there we have it – the EU flag is a national flag. Remember, they are not pretending anymore.

I got up and strode over to him, amidst much noise. From the look on his face, I think he was worried what I might do. I pointed to the huge EU flag on the wall and said to him: "I think your side is well covered!"

This is going to be up close and personal. I'm looking forward to it.

The Tory group

After four years of promises, the Tories have finally left the EPP group and set up their own Conservatives and Reformists Group. Mr Kirkthorpe looked pretty pleased with it all as he sat next to me on Tuesday.

But by Wednesday he was gone!

The Polish members fell out with the Tories because Edward McMillan-Scott, a charming but federalist MEP made a deal on who would stand as vice-president of the Parliament.
EMS was immediately booted out of the group and had the whip withdrawn.

I predict that he will return to the EPP like a homing pigeon.

The upshot was an election contest for the leadership of the group in which 10 British Tories supported the Polish Eurosceptic Michael Kaminski, over their own man.

So my neighbour in the front row is now a Pole and incredibly, I am the only UK MEP on that bench.

The Tories are in chaos and quite humiliated. All very funny.

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