'Thank God we are leaving!' Farage RAILS against Nick Clegg over Brexit and EU army plans
NIGEL Farage launched a scathing attack on Nick Clegg after the former Ukip leader said he was proved right over future EU plans to create a pan-European army with a new defence pact.
At least 20 EU members are expected to sign a new military collaboration pact – known as the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) – as early as next week.
In a 2014 debate on LBC, Mr Farage came head-to-head with the former deputy Prime Minister after he claimed the idea of a European army was "a dangerous fantasy."
And today Mr Farage seized the opportunity to hit back at Mr Clegg.
The staunch Brexiteer said: "Are you listening, Nick Clegg? The pact means a European army, navy, air force. They are already establishing their own command centre in Brussels.
"They’ve got the fund, the structures set up for all of it. Already they are divvying up which country will do the helicopter work, which country will be the major naval provider.
"All of that is happening right now!"
The British politician leader tore into the former Lib-Dem leader as he reacted to the announcement.
Speaking during his daily LBC show, he said: "When you are told by people that the Leave camp lied in the referendum because of some numbers on the side of a bus that might have slightly overinflated, compare that with the lies we have had for half a century from Nick Clegg and the others. A European Army is happening!"
Mr Farage seethingly reacted to the news, taking the chance to also take a dig at European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker – a key proponent of a new "functioning European defence union."
Mr Farage said: "I sat there in September – baring in mind I have seat number 20 in the European Parliament, my friend Jean-Claude Juncker is seat number 21 so I was the closest elected politician in Europe to him – when he gave that speech.
"I thought to myself ‘thank goodness we are leaving!’ because we are not going to be part of these European military structures anymore."
Considered the "sleeping beauty" of the Lisbon Treaty, PESCO is expected to become a game changer in the EU's security policy.
Plans for extended EU military cooperation have been hailed as a "historic step" forward by French Minister Emmanuel Macron.
France was the first country to propose to establish a European army in 1954 but plans were scuppered following protest from citizens.
