Richard Ashworth had the Tory Whip withdrawn in 2018 and is now an Independent member of the European Parliament.
Here is his excellent valedictory speech to the European Parliament as his time is coming up and as the matter stands there will be no further UK representatives in the European Parliament.
I particularly draw reader’s attention to the paragraph in italics below; I cannot emphasise it more widely.
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[Richard Ashworth] welcomed the comments made by European Council President Donald Tusk, who had called on the MEPs in Strasbourg to be open to the UK participating in the Parliament’s next term in the event of an extension.
‘I want to say thank you’
Richard Ashworth said Brexit serves as a ‘cautionary tale’ for Europe. (Photo: EP)
He said: “President Tusk, on behalf of a million people on the streets in London, on behalf of 6 million people who have signed the petition, and on behalf of 63 per cent of the British population who did not vote for Brexit, I want to say thank you. “I want to say thank you to this house for the support you’re showing, and I want to reassure you that Nigel Farage does not speak on behalf of that 63 per cent of the population.
“May I add as a comment to the European people that, for over 25 years now no British Prime Minister ever explained to the British people what Europe did, what are the benefits, and why it matters.
“They never defended against the untruths which were spoken, and they never took ownership of the decisions that they took in Council. “Because of that, the British press ran a 20-year campaign based on populist mistruths, lies and deceit.”
‘Divided like never before’
He warned that the current divided state of the UK should be a “cautionary tale” to other Europeans, saying: “The consequence of that, we see today in Britain, is a sad nation, divided like never before, and a House of Commons in crisis.
“So let Brexit stand as a cautionary tale to the people of Europe. To the people of Europe, I say this; You are the generation who have lived through the longest period of peace and the greatest level of prosperity ever.
“Never take it for granted. Value it. Fight for it. Defend it every day.”
[Ashworth’s] speech received a standing ovation in the chamber and was subsequently shared many many accounts across Europe.
Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/news/brexit/simon-ashworth-mep-speech-brexit-donald-tusk-video/
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