Anna Soubry called out Nigel Farage on Question Time last night for claiming that a “WTO” no-deal Brexit is the only way to get out of the EU.
Farage has been dismissive of “soft Brexit” plans, which could involve a customs union or staying in the EU single market, calling them a “betrayal” of the referendum vote.
But that wasn’t what he used to say.
Although Farage criticises plans for a Norway-style Brexit, he used to explicitly praise Norway’s relationship with the EU as a good model for the UK.
As a primer for tonight’s #bbcqt, let us remember what Nigel “Everyone Voted For No Deal” Farage told voters before… https://t.co/g8Bbii4UKg— Alex Andreou (@Alex Andreou) 1557437272
Here's another video of him explicitly saying there would be “nothing to fear in terms of trade” from leaving the EU because we would be in the EEA – a soft Brexit option that is sometimes called “Norway-plus”.
@sturdyAlex Here is another: https://t.co/7TwajXuVmN— Sam Rushworth (@Sam Rushworth) 1557440145
And here’s a list of other times Farage has praised Norway’s relationship with the EU.
@Leewads @grahamlithgow Here are some facts https://t.co/jNYco0PXOi— Hugo Rifkind (@Hugo Rifkind) 1557441039
It’s convenient that he doesn’t seem to remember any of these moments now it suits him.
Nigel Farage may play dumb when Anna Soubry pointed out he'd sold the Norway model, but he did - on Question Time n… https://t.co/23iw34oLL1— Graham Lithgow (@Graham Lithgow) 1557439119
Nigel Farage here.... championing Norway at every opportunity he could during the Referendum What a marked differ… https://t.co/hy8MXkB4Ut— James Baker 🦛 (@James Baker 🦛) 1557440026
Never forget: @Nigel_Farage talked up the Norway option before the Brexit vote but now claims this would be betraya… https://t.co/6FtvQC54IL— Ian Birrell (@Ian Birrell) 1557440784
One of these is much more likely than the other…
Maybe Nigel had some sort of tragic speech impediment, due to which he used to pronounce No-Deal as No-Rway, only f… https://t.co/Q1x6VT6tbM— Alex Andreou (@Alex Andreou) 1557470898
It looks like Farage will say anything to get what he wants.