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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Jack Wright

Remainer has massive tattoo of Nigel Farage inked on his leg - to raise money for charity

A Nottingham dad who voted Remain has had a tattoo of Nigel Farage being pelted with a milkshake inked onto his thigh.

Matthew Haddon-Reichardt's thigh also features the line, 'My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard' - from the song by Kelis - after the Brexit Party leader famously got milkshaked on the campaign trail.

Matthew, 41, said he wanted a satirical political tattoo to make people laugh during Brexit.

He said he  was going to get one of Theresa May, but when she resigned he got one of Mr Farage being soaked with a McDonald's milkshake.

Matthew, a writer, said he had voted Remain and would support another referendum.

Matt has the tattoo done (© Alex Cousins / SWNS)

He said: "People on the left will think I'm praising Farage, whereas people on the right will think I'm criticising him - or even advocating milkshaking.

"I planned to get a tattoo of Theresa May eating chips, but then she disappeared from the public eye so I thought to myself - 'who else can I get?'

"I asked for ideas on Facebook, and the tattooist suggested I get Farage being milkshaked with the lyric over his head.

"Farage is the architect of Brexit. He's Mr Brexit. The Churchill of Brexit, if you like.

"I'm not a member of a political party. I'm just having a laugh. It's just a bit of fun during a tough time for a nation going through the mill.

The tattoo of Nigel Farage (© Alex Cousins / SWNS)

"The whole style is very Spitting Image, or something like that.

"It's just about sending the politicians up, and putting a smile on everyone's faces.

"Truth is, it will be funny to see how Brexiteers and Corbynites will probably get together to hate this tattoo and claim it's this or it's that.

"I'm not thinking as deeply on this as they are, though."

Matthew went under the needle for five hours at True Colours Tattoo in Preston on June 30 to "make people laugh during this difficult, stressful time".

He said he's "got no axe to grind" and is wary that "it will divide people on both sides - left and right, those for Brexit and those against it".

He is trying to raise £500 for charity Rethink Mental Illness.

"I'm not fit enough to run a marathon and I can't shave my head for charity," he said. "But sitting for several hours, getting a tattoo - that's what I'm good at.

"I can bear the pain, and quite like it. So I figured - 'why not get a silly tattoo for charity? I hope Nigel likes it. Perhaps he'll want to get one of me now."

Matt with tattoo artist James Surridge (right) (© Alex Cousins / SWNS)

Matthew said he plans to get a "rogues' gallery" of politician tattoos, from Boris Johnson on a zipwire to Jeremy Corbyn looking like Mr Bean.

He said his mum Marilyn thinks the tattoo is a "bloody stupid idea" - and so does his wife and daughter.

But Matthew, who has other less-daft tattoos, said he's not phased by criticism, and secretly relishes causing a scene.

He said: "I like the idea of it being ridiculous and not something people would get done. People can interpret it how they want. That's the joy of art."

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