Nigel Farage is the person who undoubtedly influenced the Brexit vote. He persuaded many that an inordinate number of foreigners were coming to live in Britain. He simply did not want them in the UK. He succeeded in his aim by   appealing   to the   baser instincts of the   voter commonly known as Populism.   A political  platform  that  targets foreigners, immigrants  and religious  minorities that  has  a racial  and xenophobic base underpinning its  rationale. 

Farage was recently seen with President-elect Trump who no doubt adopted much of Farage’s election model. We saw Mr Farage enjoying the reflected glory of Trumps victory as if it were his own.

Prior to the Brexit referendum, Farage visited Malta to obtain support from the British residents here. That is in order but when he was interviewed by a local reporter, he also advised the population to leave the EU. That was abuse of our hospitality and in total ignorance of our link and favourable attitude to the EU.

I remember the arrogant and patronizing way this unpleasant man treated that reporter.

I also remember his joyful declaration of the Brexit result, calling it Britain’s Independence Day. By now I hope he has realised that because Britain has recently sent Boris Johnson to these islands to test the waters on Malta’s stand regarding Britain obtaining the best Brexit deal from Europe, that Britain is not, as a trading nation, exactly independent after all. He must also remember, which should take the smile off his face, that his triumph in winning the Brexit referendum vote was a Pyrrhic victory which has left both Britain and the rest of Europe in a state of uncertainty in the markets.

Mr Farage is a member of the European Parliament but is no friend of Malta. His kind of divisive politics is not wanted on these islands. If I had my way, I would declare this man a persona non grata.

Joe Izzo