"Put your flags away, you're leaving"
Mairead McGuinness isn't put up with Nigel Farage's shtick and you've got to love her for it.
The Irish MEP shut down the British politician's loaded final speech in the EU parliament chamber yesterday.
Farage and other British MEPs had chosen an unusual means of marking the Brexit deal which will occur this Friday.
In something of an over-the-top celebration, Farage and his fellow MEPs waved mini Union flags as their leader called out: "We're going to wave you goodbye, and we look forward to working with you in the future as sovereign..."
At this point, Mairead McGuinness cut off Farage's dramatic display and told him: "If you disobey the rules, you get cut off. Could we please remove the flags?
"Please sit down, resume your seats, put your flags away, you’re leaving. And take them with you if you’re leaving now. Goodbye."
People took to Twitter to clap Mairead on the back for being dignified and fair in the face of the ludicrous act.
Mairead McGuinness cuts Nigel Farage's mic - "Sit down, put your flags away - you're leaving - & take them with you - goodbye" 👍 pic.twitter.com/XM1hztMelA
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) January 29, 2020
Mairead McGuinness doing Ireland and the EU proud. As Nigel Farage tries to be as rude and as arrogant as possible.
“Please Sit Down,
Put your flags away. You’re leaving.
And take them with you!
(Parliament then erupts in applause)
Goodbye!” 🎤 pic.twitter.com/ppw0fGqaWZ— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) January 29, 2020
Everytime I hear Mairead McGuiness say to Farage and Co ‘put your flags away and take them with you, you’re leaving’ I laugh! It’s sad that #brexit is happening but hearing an Irish voice telling the Brexit Party to hop it brings a little bit of joy.
— Dr Mary McAuliffe (@MaryMcAuliffe4) January 29, 2020
Handled really well by Mairead McGuinness and thank goodness Diane Dodds showed grace by not being part of that display. https://t.co/NbHKQ2dqYu
— David McCann (@dmcbfs) January 29, 2020
Nigel Farage and his UKIP / Brexit party co-conspirators highlight all the worst attributes of English nationalism.
Small minded, jingoistic, self focused, stuck in an imagined bygone age and flag obsessed
Mairead McGuinness handles it with aplomb though.pic.twitter.com/xdEbOV5XC7— Slough for Europe 🇪🇺 💙 🇺🇦 (@SloughForEU) January 30, 2020
McGuinness also called out MEPs for not giving attention and respect to Alliance MEP Naomi Long during her speech in the parliament.
'This is her last speech here in the Parliament, please listen with respect' - European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness calls for quiet as Alliance MEP Naomi Long speaks ahead of vote on #Brexit Withdrawal Agreement | Read more: https://t.co/ibqt1PycY4 pic.twitter.com/NlF4EPlyPC
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 29, 2020