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Eurosceptic MEP faces reprimand Eurosceptic MEP 'won't apologise'
(about 3 hours later)
The Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage is expected to be disciplined by the president of the European Parliament over a tirade he delivered last week. The Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage says he has been officially asked to apologise for a tirade he delivered in the European Parliament last week.
The leader of Britain's UKIP MEPs said after a meeting with Parliament head Jerzy Buzek he would not apologise and expected to be suspended. Speaking after meeting the head of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, Mr Farage refused to apologise and said he expected to be suspended.
Mr Farage had told the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy he had "the charisma of a damp rag". Last week he told the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy he had "the charisma of a damp rag".
The former Belgian PM was making his maiden appearance in his new role.The former Belgian PM was making his maiden appearance in his new role.
Possible sanctions range from a reprimand to suspension, a parliament spokesperson told BBC News.Possible sanctions range from a reprimand to suspension, a parliament spokesperson told BBC News.
'Bank clerk''Bank clerk'
Before meeting Mr Buzek, Mr Farage told the BBC he was providing a legitimate "voice of opposition" in the European Parliament against what he said was the loss of UK powers to Brussels. Before meeting Mr Buzek on Tuesday, Mr Farage told the BBC he was providing a legitimate "voice of opposition" in the European Parliament against what he said was the loss of UK powers to Brussels.
Mr Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) group in the parliament, drew jeers last Wednesday when he turned on Mr Van Rompuy, saying he had the appearance of a "low-grade bank clerk".Mr Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) group in the parliament, drew jeers last Wednesday when he turned on Mr Van Rompuy, saying he had the appearance of a "low-grade bank clerk".
Those of us that have battled against the European institutions on the basis that they were becoming fundamentally undemocratic have been proved to be right Nigel FarageThose of us that have battled against the European institutions on the basis that they were becoming fundamentally undemocratic have been proved to be right Nigel Farage
Speaking after meeting Mr Buzek, Mr Farage told journalists he had been asked to apologise adding: "The only people I'm going to apologise to are bank clerks the world over - if I've offended them then I'm very sorry indeed."Speaking after meeting Mr Buzek, Mr Farage told journalists he had been asked to apologise adding: "The only people I'm going to apologise to are bank clerks the world over - if I've offended them then I'm very sorry indeed."
He said Mr Buzek had said he "won't let this sort of thing happen again" and would let him "know shortly what my penalty will be".He said Mr Buzek had said he "won't let this sort of thing happen again" and would let him "know shortly what my penalty will be".
"So I'm assuming that he will suspend me for a period of time from the parliament, I'm assuming he will try through the conference of presidents to get my position as leader of a group in parliament taken away."So I'm assuming that he will suspend me for a period of time from the parliament, I'm assuming he will try through the conference of presidents to get my position as leader of a group in parliament taken away.
"Those of us that have battled against the European institutions on the basis that they were becoming fundamentally undemocratic have been proved to be right.""Those of us that have battled against the European institutions on the basis that they were becoming fundamentally undemocratic have been proved to be right."
Lisbon TreatyLisbon Treaty
He said he did not think he had been insulting or used "unparliamentary language" and his comments had sparked a debate on Mr Van Rompuy's role.He said he did not think he had been insulting or used "unparliamentary language" and his comments had sparked a debate on Mr Van Rompuy's role.
The job of President of the European Council was created by the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty - a treaty condemned by Eurosceptics. The job of president of the European Council was created by the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty - a treaty condemned by Eurosceptics.
Nigel Farage: "You have all the charisma of a damp rag" Mr Van Rompuy got a blistering attack on his first appearance before MEPs
Mr Farage's party, UKIP, campaigns for a withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. It has 13 representatives in the parliament.Mr Farage's party, UKIP, campaigns for a withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. It has 13 representatives in the parliament.
Mr Farage opened his attack against Mr Van Rompuy last week by saying "I don't want to be rude" - before launching into a personal attack lasting several minutes.Mr Farage opened his attack against Mr Van Rompuy last week by saying "I don't want to be rude" - before launching into a personal attack lasting several minutes.
"Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Mr Farage said."Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Mr Farage said.
'Lively debate''Lively debate'
"You seem to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states," he continued, adding: "Perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country.""You seem to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states," he continued, adding: "Perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country."
A spokesman for the European Parliament said Mr Farage had been "simply invited" to see Mr Buzek "about his statements and formulations during the plenary".A spokesman for the European Parliament said Mr Farage had been "simply invited" to see Mr Buzek "about his statements and formulations during the plenary".
Mr Van Rompuy got a blistering attack on his first appearance before MEPs class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYWhat Mr Farage said was just childish, there was nothing intelligent or clever about his commentsSW class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/03/following_his_outburst_in_the.html#P93098687">Send us your comments
Mr Farage denied his remarks were a personal slur on Mr Van Rompuy, saying they were part of the "lively debate" needed in Parliament.Mr Farage denied his remarks were a personal slur on Mr Van Rompuy, saying they were part of the "lively debate" needed in Parliament.
"I have not done this as a stunt," he told the BBC's Daily Politics. He told the BBC he would continue to draw attention to the fact that Mr Van Rompuy and other EU officials had the power to "fundamentally change" the lives of UK citizens even though they had not been elected.
"I have done this because I have been sent here to provide a voice of opposition and that is exactly what I will try and go on doing."
He said he would continue to draw attention to the fact that Mr Van Rompuy and other EU officials had the power to "fundamentally change" the lives of UK citizens even though they had not been elected.
Mr Van Rompuy, 62, was chosen unanimously by the governments of the EU's 27 member states to take on the role of the first permanent European Council president.Mr Van Rompuy, 62, was chosen unanimously by the governments of the EU's 27 member states to take on the role of the first permanent European Council president.
Mr Van Rompuy said he held Mr Farage's comments "in contempt", without elaborating.Mr Van Rompuy said he held Mr Farage's comments "in contempt", without elaborating.