Belgian outrage over tirade by MEP Nigel Farage

Former Ukip leader may be disciplined for 'insulting and disrespectful' remarks

There is an old right-wing prejudice in Britain that Belgium does not exist. In Margaret Thatcher's day, Downing Street officials would say so privately – but they at least had the common sense not to repeat such comments when in Belgium.

No such sense of decorum has inhibited Nigel Farage, a UK Independence Party MEP and former leader of the party, who has detonated a diplomatic row by telling the Belgians that they live in a "non-country" during a tirade directed at the Belgian-born EU President Herman van Rompuy.

Mr Farage is well-known for his outbursts against the EU. But he exceeded even his usual standard of bluntness on Wednesday when he told a visibly shocked Mr van Rompuy that he had the charisma of a "damp rag" and the looks of a "low-grade bank clerk".

Over boos Mr Farage added: "I have no doubt that it is your intention to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of the European nation states. You appear to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states; perhaps that is because you come from Belgium, which of course is pretty much a non-country."

His comments provoked a letter of complaint from Belgium's Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, to the president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. "As a Belgian politician, I must react against this damaging intervention... and the impolite comments about Belgium," Mr Leterme protested. He called on Mr Buzek to end "these kinds of incidents" in a bid to protect "the interests of my citizens, which cannot be underestimated".

Ivo Belet, a Belgian Christian Democrat MEP, added: "His comments on Belgium are beyond the pale, especially given how much he seems to enjoy his Brussels life and its restaurants. He's been here for many years so it can't be so bad."

Mr Farage, who is standing in Buckingham against the Speaker, John Bercow, at the general election, has been summoned to see Mr Buzek on Tuesday, when he could face disciplinary action. Mr Buzek's spokeswoman said: "The president would like to see vivid political debate but he will not tolerate that this chamber is disrespected, that people in it are personally insulted or comments about anyone's personal appearance."

The view that Belgium is a "non-country" is taken seriously by Eurosceptics both in UKIP and on the right wing of the Conservative Party. They argue that there is no Belgian nation but only separate groups of French speakers and Dutch speakers living in an artificial kingdom who do not have the same patriotic objections that the British would have to seeing their country absorbed in an EU superstate.

Hergé et al: Famous Belgians

Leo Baekeland (1863 –1944) Chemist who invented Bakelite.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (1960-present) Action movie star.

Georges Remi, aka Hergé (1907–83) Cartoonist. His politics were suspect but his creation, Tintin, lives on.

Léopold-Louis-Philippe-Marie-Victor (1835–1909) Belgian king whose plundering of the Congo inspired Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, which in turn inspired the film Apocalypse Now.

René Magritte (1898–1967) Surrealist painter.

Eddy Merckx (1945–date) Cyclist.

Jean 'Django' Reinhardt (1910–53) Guitarist who, with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, was an early star of jazz.

Adolphe Sax (1814–1894) Designer of world's first saxophone.

Georges Simenon (1903-89) One of the world's most prolific authors, His 500-plus books include the Maigret detective novels.

Jacques Brel (1929–78) Singer-songwriter who has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
Imperial Cities of Morocco
Seven nights half-board from only £799pp Find out more
Historic Sicily
Seven nights half-board from £799pp Find out more
4* all-inclusive Crete
Seven nights from only £399pp Find out more
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Day In a Page

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats