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Ann Widdecombe attacks EU leader election 'betrayal' Ann Widdecombe's EU slavery remarks branded as 'disgusting'
(about 3 hours later)
Ann Widdecombe has attacked the EU for the way it appoints its leaders, calling it a "serious betrayal". Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe has been criticised for comparing the UK leaving the EU to "slaves" rising up "against their owners".
Earlier this week, member state leaders nominated candidates for the top jobs, such as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. She made the remarks during her maiden speech in the European Parliament on Thursday, which critics branded "disgusting" and "offensive".
In her first speech to the European Parliament, the Brexit Party MEP called the process "not democratic at all". Labour MP David Lammy described her words as "ahistorical".
But European Council President Donald Tusk argued the selections had a "strong democratic legitimacy". But the Brexit Party accused Ms Widdecombe's critics of trying to "cleanse" the English language.
The five nominations for the EU leadership roles were announced on Tuesday, after days of talks between leaders of the member states. Ms Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and shadow home secretary, was one of 29 Brexit Party candidates who won European Parliament seats in May.
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen was nominated to replace the current European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker - becoming the first woman to take the role. She began her first speech to fellow MEPs by attacking the EU for the way it appoints its leaders. This followed heads of member states nominating five candidates for the top jobs in Brussels - including the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission - earlier this week.
Belgian liberal Prime Minister Charles Michel was nominated to replace Mr Tusk. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen was nominated to replace the current European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker - becoming the first woman to take the role - and Belgian liberal Prime Minister Charles Michel was nominated to replace European Council President Donald Tusk.
Critics of the selection process say the European Parliament's own contest for the main job - the "Spitzenkandidaten" (lead candidate) process - was ignored, and that four of the main jobs went to western Europeans, with no nominees from eastern Europe.
Most of the roles must now be ratified by the European Parliament.Most of the roles must now be ratified by the European Parliament.
But critics of the selection process have complained that the European Parliament's own contest for the main job - the "Spitzenkandidaten" (lead candidate) process - was ignored, and that four of the main jobs went to western Europeans, with no nominations from eastern Europe. 'We're off'
Ms Widdecombe, who represents the South West of England in the European Parliament, said if she had needed convincing that "the best thing for Britain is to leave here as soon as possible", the process of choosing the leadership of the EU had achieved it. Ms Widdecombe, one of six MEPs representing the South West of England, said the process of choosing the leadership of the EU had convinced her that "the best thing for Britain is to leave here as soon as possible",
"If that is this place's idea of democracy, then that is a serious betrayal of every country that is represented here, because it is not democratic at all," the former Conservative MP said. She went on to say: "There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors - slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies... against their empires, and that is why Britain is leaving.
"And that is just one of many reasons why Britain is right to be leaving this place, hopefully on Halloween." "And it doesn't matter which language you use - we are going and we are glad to be going."
Ms Widdecombe compared Brexit to "slaves" rising up against their owners, saying there was "a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors". She added: "Nous allons. Wir gehen. We're off!"
She added: "It doesn't matter which language you use. We are going and we are glad to be going. Nous allons. Wir gehen, We're off!" In response, EU Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said Ms Widdecombe was giving her party leader, Nigel Farage, "stiff competition as chief clown".
But Mr Tusk told the European Parliament that he had sought consensus before making the nominations. Meanwhile, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tweeted: "It is disgusting that Ann Widdecombe would reference slavery and colonisation to describe our relationship with the EU.
"It took us three days [to decide], because I wanted to be sure that every member state, big or small, from every corner of Europe, was on board when it came to the future leadership of the union," he said. "Her and Farage are bankrolled by elites - she's part of the establishment which has created such a divide in this country."
Liberal Democrat MEP Martin Horwood called for Ms Widdecombe to withdraw her comments and apologise.
"Ann Widdecombe has not only embarrassed herself, but she has embarrassed the nation she represents," he said.
But a Brexit Party spokesman said: "Those who have raised this hue and cry seem to desire nothing more than a cleansing of our language of historical perspective and even metaphor.
"Ms Widdecombe was right to talk about the great sweep of history, and the simple fact that those who are oppressed will always strive for freedom."
Her critics "desire nothing more than a cleansing of our language of historical perspective and even metaphor", he said, adding: "Would they also ban Rule Britannia? The Last night of the Proms?"