Flotilla battle in London over Brexit
A surreal scene unfolded Wednesday morning in the River Thames, with warring flotillas of boats debating whether Britain should leave the European Union.
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Pro ‘Leave’ boats form a flotilla as Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party shows his support for the ‘Leave’ campaign for the upcoming EU Referendum aboard a boat on the River Thames on June 15, 2016 in London, England. Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, is campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a referendum being held on June 23, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
- In an EU referendum campaign stunt, men on a boat wearing “leave” t-shirts spray water from a hose at people holding “In” banners, one of whom also appears to be wearing a “leave” t-shirt of the same design as the leave supporters on the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. A flotilla of boats protesting EU fishing polices has sailed up the River Thames to the Houses of Parliament as part of a campaign backing Britain’s exit from the European Union. The flotilla was greeted by boats carrying “remain” supporters. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
- Leave supporters hold flags as they stand on Westminster Bridge during an EU referendum campaign stunt in which a flotilla of boats supporting “Leave” sailed up the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. A flotilla of boats protesting EU fishing polices has sailed up the River Thames to the Houses of Parliament as part of a campaign backing Britain’s exit from the European Union. The flotilla was greeted by boats carrying “remain” supporters. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
- Leader of the anti-EU Ukip party Nigel Farage poses on board a boat taking part in a leave the EU campaign “flotilla” on the River Thames, London. Wednesday June 15, 2016. In eight days time Britain goes to the polls in a referendum on whether Britain should remain or leave the EU. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
- UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage reacts to supporters cheering him from Westminster Bridge as he travels on a boat for an EU referendum campaign stunt in which a flotilla of boats supporting “Leave” sailed up the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. A flotilla of boats protesting EU fishing polices has sailed up the River Thames to the Houses of Parliament as part of a campaign backing Britain’s exit from the European Union. The flotilla was greeted by boats carrying “remain” supporters. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Boats from the ‘Fishing for Leave’ campaign group and boats from the ‘In’ campaign join a flotilla along the Thames River on June 15, 2016 in London, England. The flotilla organised by members of the Fishing for Leave group, who are campaigning to leave the European Union ahead of the referendum on the 23rd of June, was countered by boats representing the ‘In’ campaign. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Supporters look on as boats from the ‘Fishing for Leave’ campaign group and boats from the ‘In’ campaign join a flotilla along the Thames River outside Parliament on June 15, 2016 in London, England. The flotilla organised by members of the Fishing for Leave group, who are campaigning to leave the European Union ahead of the referendum on the 23rd of June, was countered by boats representing the ‘In’ campaign. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Bob Geldof supports the ‘In’ campaign as Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, shows his support for the ‘Leave’ campaign for the upcoming EU Referendum both aboard seperate boats on the River Thames on June 15, 2016 in London, England. Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, is campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a referendum being held on June 23, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Supporters wave flags from Westminster Bridge as a boat from the ‘Fishing for Leave’ campaign joins a flotilla along the Thames River on June 15, 2016 in London, England. The flotilla organised by members of the Fishing for Leave group, who are campaigning to leave the European Union ahead of the referendum on the 23rd of June, was countered by boats representing the ‘In’ campaign. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party shows his support for the ‘Leave’ campaign for the upcoming EU Referendum aboard a boat on the River Thames on June 15, 2016 in London, England. Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, is campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a referendum being held on June 23, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
- Fishing boats campaigning for Brexit sail by the Tower of London in London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Boats from the ‘Fishing for Leave’ campaign group join a flotilla along the Thames River on June 15, 2016 in London, England. The flotilla organised by members of the Fishing for Leave group, who are campaigning to leave the European Union ahead of the referendum on the 23rd of June, was countered by boats representing the ‘In’ campaign. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
- Brexit fishing boats, part of a flotilla sail up the river Thames in central London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / NIKLAS HALLE’N)
- A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames in central London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL)
- Brexit fishing boats, part of a flotilla sail up the river Thames in central London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / NIKLAS HALLE’N)
- Boats decorated with flags and banners from the ‘Fishing for Leave’ group that are campaigning for a ‘leave’ vote in the EU referendum sail by the British Houses of Parliament as part of a “Brexit flotilla’ on the river Thames in London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / NIKLAS HALLE’N)
- Campaigners to remain in the EU unfurl a banner on Westminster Bridge as they wait for a flotilla of boats from the group ‘Fishing for Leave’ to sail by on the river Thames in London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / Niklas HALLE’N)
- A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldoff (C) shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames in central London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL)
- A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats passes the Houses of Parliament as it sails up the river Thames in London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL)
- A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldoff (C) shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames in central London on June 15, 2016. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London today with foghorns sounding, in a protest against EU fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL)
“Should I stay or should I go?” Joe Strummer sings in the classic song by the Clash. Lately Brits are asking the same question – about whether to stay or leave the European Union. Wednesday morning, a fishing group called Fishing for Leave organized a flotilla of boats to sail up the Thames near the House of Commons, where the Prime Minister was taking final questions before the referendum, which takes place June 23. The fishermen, who are in favor of Brexit, were later joined by politician Nigel Farage, head of UKIP and the organizer of the “Leave” campaign. And then multimillionaire Bob Geldof showed up on a yacht, mocking the campaign with a very, very loud loudspeaker. The “Leave” boats later fired a waterhose on one of the “In” ships.