Cheers, Tears and Jeers for the U.K.’s Final Bow in Brussels

Squeezed between an argument over what to call its transport strategy and a debate on the coronavirus, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of Britain’s orderly departure from the European Union.

It was an anti-climactic way to issue the U.K.’s last rites. But Britain’s goodbye has been gradual since voters chose that path in June 2016, and inevitable since December’s general election returned Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a large majority. The parliament in Brussels always had a veto over the Brexit deal, but it was never seriously going to block it.

Instead, a two-hour debate provided the stage for the last meaningful contribution for the British in Brussels since they joined the club in 1973. Some of the U.K.’s representatives, directly elected by voters who increasingly fell out of love with Europe, hailed their moment of freedom, waved the Union Flag and cheered “hip, hip, hooray.” For others, it was a time of deep regret. Their voices cracked as they described Britain’s departure as betrayal and tragedy.

“The British are too big to bully,” bellowed Nigel Farage, one of the most prominent Brexit campaigners and the EU parliament’s most unruly member since 1999. But his final flourish after more than 20 years was cut off for breaking the parliament’s rules on flag-waving.

But this was about the EU, too. For decades it thought membership was irreversible. Now it’s losing one of its biggest countries. To jeers from Farage’s party, Germans, Poles, Spaniards and others decried the decision and said they still dreamed that one day the Brits would be back. Several called for the EU to learn lessons as well. “It’s also our failure -- we have to recognize that,” said former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhoftstadt.

As the parliament displayed the result of the vote, read out by interpreters in 24 languages, many politicians linked arms and broke into “Auld Lang Syne,” the traditional Scottish folk song.

“Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” they sang. And then, with, according to some, indecent haste, moved onto other matters.

Did we really have to end “at 6 p.m. sharp?” asked Belgian politician Philippe Lamberts. “It’s not every day a country leaves the European Union.”

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[allen]

Only a government official could be sad about less government

[Fair-to-Middling]

"Freedom, democracy, self-governance, WE WON!"

[davidchristensen]

It’s amazing to see how the leaders of the EU did not understand how the eu rules effect the UK to the point they felt they had to leave. The fishing grounds around the uk was the issue that drove it home to me the uk was right. Other countries have over fished their fisheries. They then flooded to the fisheries around the uk and started to strip the fisheries there. The UK could do nothing to stop it. Except leave. Good luck UK

[ChechiDLR]

The crying is for all the money they'll be missing out from now on.

[Skindrift]

Why are so many people not proud just to be British. One of the greatest nations in the last 500 years and that's not good enough?

[TheTeatimecrumpet]

This is great news! The UK should get everything it deserves with a hard exit!

[Feelthefx]

Mr. Farage most certainly will not miss you either.

[pauljohn]

Dear EU, TRUMP WILL give UK an unbelievable business deal and they will laugh at you while they go to the bank.

[tinydruid]

Hurrah! More winning and winning AND winning! Grats to the UK :)

[yakovmatityahu]

Nigel Farage is a legend...he single handedly brought the EU to dismembering...Kudos and Bravo to this great guy.

[RoseIsAsleep]

I for one and very happy for them and hope they do well

[gulfcitynd]

No the UK will be able to survive without the PC bs

[jeffstrang]

Their crying the one that's paying all the bills is leaving, england is sick of paying for all debt and bills that the EU is racking up with all these unsustainable economic and social policies.

[sunstatejon]

England WWIII World War 3 We the People of the United States of America, to England

We will be Honored to join your entire European Allied forces, bringing our troop's ovesea's to end the Invasion of "The Empire of the European Union"

[calebpethtel]

So whats wrong with being an independent nation rather than being in a union? If a country wants to leave, let them. They shouldn't be restrained by what other countries want them to do. Especially a nation as strong as the UK.

[dawunderdog]

Crying for their money walking out the door

[Roudter]

Evil dresses itself up to be sad....Please, go on with your sick selves....

[Bigolg]

Good for the British!! They finally can speak for themselves and not be told what to do! Congratulations!

[walterwhite]

Looks like Britain doesn't want to bow to Mecca. 😂

[snowbird]

Mr. Farage...."You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." "You know you're over the target when you start taking flack." All the best to you and all our Independent friends on the other side of the pond. Well done!