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Nigel reprimanded in European Parliament over Ashton speech
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UKIP Leader Nigel Farage was this morning reprimanded by European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek for his questions relating to the appointment of Baroness Ashton as the EU's High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.
Buzek insisted that Mr Farage 'restrain his language and refrain from making unacceptable comments in the chamber'.
Mr Farage was questioning whether Ashton was a suitable candidate for the post because of her past associations with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), given that she will be in charge of the external security of the European Union. He had asked specifically whether Baroness Ashton had accepted cash on behalf of CND from the 'enemies of western capitalism and democracy'.
Speaking after the 'debate' in the parliament's Strasbourg chamber, he said: "To attempt to silence an elected representative from asking pertinent questions about the past of the EU's foreign minister is censorship, plain and simple. Her past actions have a direct bearing on her suitability for her new role."
"To be reprimanded for carrying out my duty to my constituents by the parliament's President is scandalous. Is this the price Europe will pay for the deeply undemocratic imposition of the Lisbon Treaty?"
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