Nigel Farage Brexit speech: MEP who held his head in his hands during Ukip leader's address speaks out
Mr Andriukaitis says many votes were 'influenced by the lies spread by some representatives of the Leave campaign'
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Your support makes all the difference.The MEP pictured in despair behind Nigel Farage as the Ukip leader gave his controversial post-referendum speech in Brussels has said Jo Cox was a “symbol” of the referendum - and spoke of his dismay at the “toxic untruths” of the Leave campaign.
Images of Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, with his head in his hand in anguish as Mr Farage spoke, were widely shared on social media, using the hash tag #WeAreSeat123.
But Mr Andriukaitis, a Lithuanian heart surgeon, wanted to make his views on the British vote to leave the EU clear.
In a blog post, he said the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox symbolised the bitter campaign because of “people instigating hate, chauvinism and phobias".
“These are brutal forces infecting our democracies, destroying sentiment of security and values that we hold so dearly in Europe."
Lord Jonathan Hill, the former financial commissioner who resigned after the leave vote, also represented aspects of the British reaction to the vote, Mr Andriukaitis said, and was an example of “moral self-determination, taking responsibility and embracing the consequences”.
In a thinly veiled attack on Mr Farage, he added: “This is in stark contrast to the actions of some others who personify political hypocrisy.”
Mr Andriukaitis also passed a damning verdict on the Leave campaign and defended the EU as the only way to achieve a future of “social justice and security”. He expressed his full support for Britons – including those who voted for Brexit.
To the Leavers, he said: “I am with all those who voted against financial speculation uncovered in the 'Panama papers' and with those who voted against unemployment and decreasing standards of living.”
But he said many votes were "influenced by the lies spread by some representatives of the Leave campaign".
He added: “Toxic untruths spread by Mr Farage and others, such as claims that money Britain contributes to the EU budget would be used for investments in healthcare, have now been revealed as lies.”
The health commissioner also expressed his solidarity with Remain voters, “who want to create a better future for their families, and who believe that it is possible together, united in diversity, to fight against corporate greed and fraud perpetrated by financial transnational capitalism".
He concluded that the only way this could be done was “together”.
Read the blog post in full below.
Yesterday, with my fellow EU Commissioners, I attended the extraordinary session in the European Parliament. Some photos – particularly that of my right hand - and videos have spread on social media. You will have seen me grimacing and trying to hide my despair while Nigel Farage spoke.
I have enjoyed reading the many comments and can confirm that I do indeed appreciate British humour. But as tweets were exchanged, I felt it was important to share some more serious thoughts on how I felt yesterday in the Parliament.
I was and still am fully with all the British people. I am with all those who voted against financial speculation uncovered in the 'Panama papers' and with those who voted against unemployment and decreasing standards of living. However, sadly, many votes will have been influenced by the lies spread by some representatives of the Leave campaign.
I am also with those who voted to remain in the EU, who want to create a better future for their families, and who believe that it is possible together, united in diversity, to fight against corporate greed and fraud perpetrated by financial transnational capitalism.
Toxic untruths spread by Mr Farage and others, such as claims that money Britain contributes to the EU budget would be used for investments in healthcare, have now been revealed as lies.
In my heart, two symbols of this referendum remain – both of them are very different. One is the assassination of Labour MP Jo Cox and the other is of Jonathan Hill.
Jo Cox was killed because of people instigating hate, chauvinism and phobias. These are brutal forces infecting our democracies, destroying sentiment of security and values that we hold so dearly in Europe.
Lord Hill was decisive and stepped down. This is an example of moral self-determination, taking responsibility and embracing the consequences. This is in stark contrast to the actions of some others who personify political hypocrisy.
Britain is changing. Young people in Scotland, Northern Ireland or London want to see a different future.
The EU is changing as well. For me its future lies in social justice and security. This is the way forward. And only together, with the EU Member States, with the European Parliament, and with a decisive European Council - avoiding the cacophony and constant bashing of Brussels - can we achieve this together.
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