A British Brexit Party MEP has compared Brexit to 'slaves turning against their owners'.
England South West's Ann Widdecombe was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier today.
She started by criticising the recent process of electing leaders for the EU institutions.
European leaders on Tuesday nominated German Defence Minister Ursula Von Der Leyen as European Commission president after lengthy negotiations - a nomination which must now be voted on by parliament.
Ms Widdecombe, however, claimed the process "is not democratic at all" - and suggested it's one of the reasons why the UK is right to leave the bloc.
WATCH | Fantastic maiden speech in Brussels from Ann Widdecombe:
"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors. It doesn't matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going!" 👏👏👏https://t.co/iICfFb8qqg pic.twitter.com/7Six6TJN0n— Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) July 4, 2019
The former Conservative MP went on to claim: "There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors: slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies [...] against their empires - and that is why Britain is leaving.
"It doesn't matter which language you use - we are going and we are glad to be going."
She added: "Nous allons. Wir gehen. We're off!"
It comes after members of her party turned their back during the opening of the European Parliament earlier this week.
The speech was met with swift criticism, with Labour MP David Lammy describing the remarks as "offensive and ahistorical":
Anne Widdecombe just compared Britain leaving the EU to "slaves" rising up "against their owners".
It is impossible to explain how offensive and ahistorical it is for you to equate my ancestors tearing off their chains with your small-minded nationalist project. Shame on you. https://t.co/wZVCziXWVM— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 4, 2019
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats insisted Ms Widdecombe does not represent the views of everyone in the UK - with their MEP Martin Horwood saying that Brexit is not inevitable.
He argued: "Opinion is shifting in Britain - otherwise we would not be here."
Ann Widdecombe of the Brexit Party "does not represent the views of everyone in Britain" @MartinChelt tells the European Parliament.
#Brexit is not inevitable! 👇👇👇🇬🇧🇪🇺
RT if you agree! pic.twitter.com/LP37dABWZv— Lib Dems for Europe 🇬🇧🔶️🇪🇺 (@LibDemMEPs) July 4, 2019
The Brexit Party won the largest number of seats in the European elections in the UK in May, taking 29 seats (many of which were previously held by UKIP, who returned no MEPs).
However, the Remain-supporting Lib Dems also dramatically increased their share of votes - from 1 to 16.
