Brits lid Europees Parlement weggestuurd na beledigen Ashton (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - An MEP from the eurosceptic UK Independence Party was removed from parliament on Wednesday (10 March) after making disparaging remarks about EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton i, becoming the second MEP from the party to offend the chamber in recent weeks.
In a debate on Wednesday on the development of an EU Arctic policy, William, Earl of Dartmouth, questioned whether countries such as Greece and Cyprus, on the southern shores of the European Union, should be seeking to have a policy on the Arctic.
He went on to say that it was as curious as the appointment of the "unqualified" Catherine Ashton to be the EU's foreign policy chief:
"But an EU Arctic policy is perhaps not so bizarre as the appointment of the supremely unqualified Baroness Ashton, the Sarah Palin of the ex-student left, as High Representative. At the hearings it was clear that the High Representative has forgotten nothing and has learnt nothing."
The chair of the debate, Liberal MEP Diana Wallis, cut him off in mid-speech and asked an usher to escort the MEP from the chamber.
"I am sorry but I don't think we should listen to personal comments like that in chamber. We will not have personal comments of that nature," she said.
Lord Dartmouth later said he would be writing to European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek i to complain about the incident.
"Ukip has always said that this is not a proper parliament as it is wholly intolerant of dissent. Today's events have proved that," he said.
The incident marks the second time that a Ukip euro-deputy has gone beyond the bounds of what parliament authorities consider appropriate discourse in its chamber.
Two weeks ago Nigel Farage caused anger when he insulted EU president i Herman Van Rompuy i by saying he had the charisma of a "damp rag" and the appearance of a "low-grade bank clerk." He was later fined €3,000 for refusing to apologise.
At the time Mr Buzek said he would defend free speech but not personal insults. The parliament's internal rules say:
"Members' conduct shall be characterised by mutual respect ...[and] respect the dignity of parliament."
The widely-reported incident gave Mr Farage a moment of fame in the UK, ultimately securing him a place on two flagship news programmes on the BBC.
However, Mr Van Rompuy says he also benefitted from the exchange. He told the BBC: "I can assure you that I am now at the height of my popularity in Flanders, after the incident in the European Parliament..."
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