Rival naval forces from both sides of Britain's Brexit debate joined in battle on the Thames on Tuesday as U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage led a fleet of fishing boats to Westminster.
Over 30 fishing vessels stormed, Dunkirk-style, from Ramsgate on the Kent coast up to London, led by Farage and George Eustice, the Conservative minister in charge of fisheries and Brexit campaigner:
RT_com: RT RTUKnews: WATCH LIVE: UKIP's Nigel Farage leads pro-#Brexit flotilla stunt up Thames … pic.twitter.com/eHWbAqh7xi
— Mohaimen Barson (@b4rsOn) June 15, 2016
But they were met with resistance from boats carrying pro-EU campaigners, with dinghies and other vessels seeking to disrupt the flotilla.
One ship, captained by musician and activist Sir Bob Geldof, blasted out Chicago's If You Leave Me Now from a high-powered soundsystem at the Brexiters, according to The Mirror:
So I’m on a Remain boat with Bob Geldof and Rachel Johnson. They’re heading off Nigel Farage’s Thames flotilla. pic.twitter.com/JU3vpuwWtK
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 15, 2016
Said sound system now blaring out Chicago’s If You Leave Me Now. #battleofthethames
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 15, 2016
And clashes involving a hose have been reported:
SECOND STRIKE. Same boat again with the hose. #battleofthethames pic.twitter.com/YJoya2Nbwn
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 15, 2016
The Brexit flotilla is protesting what it sees as damaging EU fisheries regulations. "After its introduction in 1970, the Common Fisheries Policy has been synonymous with the huge decline of our fish stocks, deterioration of the environment, wasteful discarding of fish, and the destruction of Britain's fishing industry and communities," a press release from the Leave.EU campaign said.
Needless to say, Twitter has got very excited about the whole thing:
For some reason I can't read about the Brexit flotilla without thinking of the Thunder Child. pic.twitter.com/q2obF2wjgP
— Sarah McDermott (@most_illegible) June 15, 2016
'Hardy... Did every man do his duty and defeat the might of the immigrant moths?' #brexitflotilla pic.twitter.com/vVeQO9uXLG
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) June 15, 2016
Thames Brexit flotilla turns nasty. pic.twitter.com/2ZQrNCjFsy
— News In Brie (@NewsInBrie) June 15, 2016
Annoying to get a promoted tweet for the ridiculous Brexit flotilla in my timeline. #Remain pic.twitter.com/Q2fvSL7v1t
— Barney Stringer (@BarneyStringer) June 15, 2016
Annoying to get a promoted tweet for the ridiculous Brexit flotilla in my timeline. #Remain pic.twitter.com/Q2fvSL7v1t
— Barney Stringer (@BarneyStringer) June 15, 2016
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Josh is a staff writer covering Europe, including politics, policy, immigration and more.
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