Nigel Farage was left humiliated today after being compared to Blackadder’s villainous portrayal of Field Marshal Haig.
The former UKIP leader was mocked by the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt as MEPs debated the latest developments in the UK’s torturous negotiations to leave the EU.
Verhofstadt said he was “surprised” to see Farage in the Strasbourg parliament and not on the pro-Brexit march currently taking place in the UK.
He said he was reminded of Field Marshal Douglas Haig in Blackadder’s final episode, where the historical character is seen directing the war effort from afar - avoiding the frontline.
Referring to Farage’s presence, Verhofstadt said: “This is a surprise to me because I thought that he was marching somewhere in Britain.
“But he is here. A 200-mile march. How many miles have you done – two miles?
“You remind me more and more - I don’t know if you know him - Field Marshal Haig in Blackadder, who was also sitting in the World War One in his office in London.
“And you are in Strasbourg while your own people are marching through the rain and in the cold.”
Verhofstadt’s comment sparked loud laughter in the chamber.
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But Farage hit back, saying: “As a former Belgian prime minister I thought you would know that it was Field Marshal Haig in 1914 that saved the Belgian town of Ypres from German domination, who then went on to lead Britain in 1918 in its greatest ever military defeat of Germany on the Western Front.
“Far from mocking Haig in Belgium, he should be a great hero to you.”
The pro-Brexit march left Sunderland on Saturday and is due to arrive at Westminster on Friday - the day Britain was due to leave the EU.
That has now been delayed until Friday 12 April at the earliest but it could be later.
