While those who voted for Britain to stay in the European Union spent “Brexit Day” venting their frustrations, Nigel Farage marked the day with a trip to the pub. The former Ukip leader, who spent his entire political career campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union, enjoyed a celebratory pint of beer in Westminster.
The triggering of Article 50, which was christened "Brexit Day" by media outlets, starkly divided the country. While those who wanted Britain to remain in Europe mourned the beginning of the process that will see Britain leave the EU, Brexiteers rejoiced.
Mr Farage said he was going to “go for a pint of something” to celebrate in the morning and later he sat outside a Westminster pub talking to journalists and even being disturbed by an angry remain campaigner.
Speaking to the BBC from the pub, the Ukip MEP said in many ways he never thought this day would come.
Mr Farage said: “25 years I’ve been battling for this, standing in by-elections and fighting and being told I was daft, and silly, and it would never ever happen, so in a sense for me today's the day the impossible dream came true.”
Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of far-right publication Breitbart News in London and a former chief Farage aide who fleetingly made a bid for party leadership, posted a video of Mr Farage at the pub.
In the clip, Mr Farage can be seen thanking the publication, which is overtly pro-Trump, and chief White House strategist Steve Bannon for helping to encourage Britons to support the Leave Campaign.
He said: “Well done Bannon, well done Breitbart. You helped with this hugely.”
Breitbart News, the most widely-read Conservative site in the US, was founded by conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart in 2007 and was later expanded by Mr Bannon.
Mr Farage was also photographed with pro-Brexit front page alongside his pint. The politician’s penchant for beer has been documented in a blog titled “Pictures of Nigel Farage with a pint”.
