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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dan Bloom

Brexit backers and Remainers face a new brutal battle - over the UK Number 1

That's it - Brexit is unstoppable and we're leaving at 11pm on Friday 31 January.

The European Parliament marked it by breaking into song with a rendition of Scots farewell ballad Auld Lang Syne.

But there's another much more important musical announcement on Friday... the UK official No1.

And a battle is raging between Remainers and Brexiteers over which one should claim the top spot.

If recent experience is anything to go by, we might see EU anthem Ode to Joy stuck behind on 48% to 52% for "17 Million F**k Offs", a Brexit-themed song by comedian Dominic Frisby.

Despite its morbid speed, clunky lyrics and quirkily-dressed singer, it has had nearly half a million views on YouTube, explaining how "the British told them to f*** off".

Pro Brexit demonstrators gather in Parliament Square to listen to Nigel Farage last year (Getty Images)

As of this morning, a version of Ode to Joy by André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra was at No1 in the British iTunes download chart.

But 17 Million F**k Offs was not far behind, at number three. And there is barely a day left before the official No1 is announced at 6pm on Friday.

Latest overall figures from Official Charts are a bit less promising for either side though. As of today Ode to Joy is at No27 while the pro Brexit song is at No40.

Will Remainers finally chalk up a win in their long struggle? We'll soon find out.

It comes after emotive farewell scenes to the UK as the European Parliament officially approved the Brexit deal.

MEPs held hands and sang Robert Burn's Auld Lang Syne after Britain's Brexit bill was approved.

Politicians held scarves that read "Always United" after MEPs backed the Withdrawal Agreement, which was approved by Parliament last week, by voting 621 for versus 49 against the Brexit deal, with 13 abstentions.

Euro MPs took part in an afternoon of emotional speeches - with almost every member speaking saying that Britain would be missed after their exit.

MEPs cried as the vote was passed.

As British MEPs arrived in the European Parliament, a sign above the chamber could be seen reading: "It's not goodbye, it's au revoir."

But Brexiteers were jubilant. Nigel Farage was gagged during his last speech in Brussels as the Brexit Party leader waved a Union Flag.

The outspoken politician used his final EU speech to slam the institutions and said that the Brexit Party "hate the EU but do not hate Europe".

Parliament vice-president Mairead McGuinness told him: “If you disobey the rules, you get cut off. Could we please remove the flags?’

As Brexit Party MEPs gave three hi hip hoorays, she added: “Please sit down, resume your seats, put your flags away. You’re leaving and take them with you.”

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