Brexit Party MEPs turn their backs on European national anthem Ode to Joy at EU parliament opening ceremony
![MEPs from Nigel Farage's Brexit Party have kicked off their time in the European Parliament by turning their backs on the EU's national anthem during the legislature's opening ceremony.The Brexiteers carried out the protest as Ode to Joy played on Tuesday morning to open the new parliamentary session.They were far from the only British delegation to pull a stunt, however. The newly enlarged Liberal Democrat contingent from the UK turned up to the first sitting of the parliament wearing identical yellow "Bollocks to Brexit" t-shirts.Richard Corbett, a long-serving Labour MEP, said the Brexiteers "think they’re being clever by standing with their backs to the chair at the opening session", adding that the move "looks pathetic and [has] not impressed anyone".More follows…](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/xSxp7VhphdBQ44gYxL.b3g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_577/b6112fd56280dadd9114704a4c62b153)
![MEPs from Nigel Farage's Brexit Party have kicked off their time in the European Parliament by turning their backs on the EU's national anthem during the legislature's opening ceremony.The Brexiteers carried out the protest as Ode to Joy played on Tuesday morning to open the new parliamentary session.They were far from the only British delegation to pull a stunt, however. The newly enlarged Liberal Democrat contingent from the UK turned up to the first sitting of the parliament wearing identical yellow "Bollocks to Brexit" t-shirts.Richard Corbett, a long-serving Labour MEP, said the Brexiteers "think they’re being clever by standing with their backs to the chair at the opening session", adding that the move "looks pathetic and [has] not impressed anyone".More follows…](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fxiOAHX.TAf5YLIJAj_KfQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_577/d34337fe98aa3ca2b6cd8f03103fec24)
MEPs from Nigel Farage's Brexit Party have kicked off their time in the European Parliament by turning their backs on the EU's national anthem during the legislature's opening ceremony.
The Brexiteers carried out the protest as Ode to Joy played on Tuesday morning to open the new parliamentary session.
They were far from the only British delegation to pull a stunt, however. The newly enlarged Liberal Democrat contingent from the UK turned up to the first sitting of the parliament wearing identical yellow "Bollocks to Brexit" t-shirts.
Richard Corbett, a long-serving Labour MEP, said the Brexiteers "think they’re being clever by standing with their backs to the chair at the opening session", adding that the move "looks pathetic and [has] not impressed anyone".
More follows…
