How Nigel Farage Won Brexit

Summary

Summary of "How Nigel Farage Won Brexit"

Podcast: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Host/Author: Premiere Networks
Episode Title: How Nigel Farage Won Brexit
Release Date: March 5, 2020

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I. Introduction and Guest Introduction

The episode opens with Michael Knowles and Senator Ted Cruz welcoming Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and a pivotal figure in the Brexit movement. Farage’s unexpected appearance is attributed to Ted Cruz’s chance encounter with him at a Republican Conference lunch, where Farage discussed Brexit and his leadership role.

Notable Quote:
Michael Knowles (00:00): “...a now unemployed member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage. Thank you for being here.”
Ted Cruz (00:38): “Nigel came and joined the Republican Conference for lunch... and boom, here he is.”

II. Understanding Brexit and the European Union

Farage elucidates the fundamental differences between the European Union (EU) and other international trade agreements like NAFTA. He emphasizes that the EU is a political union where member states cede sovereignty, including judicial authority to EU courts, and adhere to laws and regulations set by unelected commissioners.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (01:19): “The European Union is a political union and a member state that joins it gives up its sovereignty... becomes a satellite of this new entity called the EU.”
Ted Cruz (03:04): “...it’s the same battle, isn't it? It's about the nation state.”

III. The Rise of Nigel Farage and UKIP

Farage recounts his long-standing opposition to the EU, which began over three decades prior. Initially dismissed as "crazy" and a "patron saint of lost causes," Farage persisted in his campaign for British independence from the EU. His efforts culminated in leading UKIP to a significant electoral victory in 2014, disrupting the traditional two-party dominance of Labor and Conservative parties in the UK.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (05:35): “This is a big moment in our history.”
Nigel Farage (11:23): “We had the referendum, we won the referendum... They just didn't wanna deliver it.”

IV. The Brexit Referendum and Its Aftermath

The discussion delves into the 2016 Brexit referendum, where the UK voted to leave the EU. Farage details the challenges faced post-referendum, including the establishment's reluctance to honor the vote, leading to prolonged political battles. He highlights the eventual departure on January 31st, 2020, marking a historic shift not just for the UK but signaling the potential unraveling of the EU.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (04:29): “...we have had the most titanic political battle in our country since the 17th century...”
Ted Cruz (05:10): “This is the beginning of the end of the European Union.”

V. Brexit’s Significance to Ordinary Citizens

Farage explains Brexit’s direct impact on everyday Britons, particularly small business owners who were previously subject to EU-driven regulations. He underscores the restoration of democratic control, allowing British citizens to debate and decide on laws affecting their lives, such as immigration and environmental policies.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (13:03): “If I'm running that business, all right, every rule and regulation that affects me... has been coming to me from the European Union.”
Ted Cruz (14:21): “You mean you actually have democracy now?”

VI. Brexit and International Relations: The Huawei Controversy

The conversation shifts to the geopolitical implications of Brexit, particularly the Huawei controversy. Farage expresses concern over the UK's decision to allow Huawei, a Chinese state-owned company, into its telecom infrastructure, citing national security risks and the potential strain on the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Notable Quotes:
Ted Cruz (22:59): “...they’re not doing it to make money. They’re doing it to install surveillance equipment.”
Nigel Farage (24:13): “That's a great quote. ... This is a mistake. It needs to be reversed.”

VII. Brexit’s Cultural Impact: Comments on Meghan Markle

In a lighter yet culturally significant segment, Farage discusses the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the British royal family. He commends Meghan’s military service and contrasts it with her decision to pursue a life outside royal duties, leading to her formal departure as a royal. This reflects broader themes of tradition versus individual choice within the UK.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (25:59): “...the Queen has put her foot down and said... you no longer can call yourselves his and Her Royal Highness.”
Ted Cruz (26:12): “Seeing them pal around with Hollywood liberals...”

VIII. Conclusion and Future Outlook

As the episode nears its end, Farage hints at future endeavors to inspire similar movements across Europe, potentially leading other countries to exit the EU. He identifies economic vulnerabilities, particularly in southern and eastern European nations, as potential catalysts for future referendums on EU membership.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (20:20): “That depends on the economics of... could be Italy or Greece the next time... they’re in the wrong currency.”
Nigel Farage (21:54): “...there’s so many opportunities now between us...”

IX. Final Remarks and Farewell

The podcast concludes with Farage expressing optimism about Brexit's success and its implications for European sovereignty. Hosts Michael Knowles and Ted Cruz acknowledge his contributions and the significance of the conversation, teasing future discussions on related topics.

Notable Quotes:
Nigel Farage (27:02): “Thank you.”
Michael Knowles (27:02): “Nigel Farage. Thank you so much for being here.”

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Key Takeaways

• Sovereignty and Democracy: Central to Brexit was the restoration of national sovereignty and democratic control over laws and regulations, free from unelected EU bureaucrats.

• Political Strategy: Farage’s persistence over two decades, culminating in UKIP’s electoral success, was instrumental in pushing the Conservative Party to propose a referendum, ultimately leading to Brexit.

• Economic and Security Implications: Brexit redefined the UK’s economic policies and international relationships, notably raising concerns over security issues like the Huawei controversy and its impact on intelligence alliances.

• Cultural Shifts: Brexit also influenced cultural and societal dynamics within the UK, exemplified by high-profile events such as the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from royal duties.

• Future Prospects: Farage envisions Brexit as the first step towards dismantling the EU, with potential for other nations to follow suit, especially those facing economic or political dissatisfaction within the union.

Conclusion

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz provides an in-depth exploration of Nigel Farage’s pivotal role in the Brexit movement, highlighting the ideological motivations, political maneuvers, and broader implications for the UK and the European Union. Through engaging discussions and insightful analysis, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how Brexit was achieved and its lasting impact on national and international landscapes.

Transcript

[Michael Knowles]

When Nigel Farage told the European Parliament that the UK would leave the European Union, they all laughed at him. Well, look who's laughing now. And look who's in our studio. This is Verdict with Ted Cruz. Welcome back to Verdict with Ted Cruz. I'm Michael Knowles. We are joined by a now unemployed member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage. Thank you for being here. And Senator Cruz, I have to thank you for not only being a number one podcaster in America, but also apparently a very good booking producer because you brought your friend Nigel along.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, and this was pure happenstance. So Nigel came and joined the Republican Conference for lunch and he was talking to us about Brexit. He was talking about his incredible leadership and bringing that about. It was absolutely fascinating. And so I walked up to him afterwards and said, well, look, we're doing this podcast. Can you come join us? And boom, here he is.

[Michael Knowles]

I am so glad that you were able to come because this is gonna sound like a very stupid question, but I thought, in 2016, the UK votes for Brexit, they're gonna leave the EU. Then for some reason, it doesn't happen. 2017, 2018, 2019. Now we're in 2020, it finally happens. What is the Brexit? And even what is the European Union?

[Nigel Farage]

Well, it's a great question and thanks, guys. It's great to be here. I, you know, I spent most of my business life before politics working for American companies. So I know a lot of Americans, a lot of smart, well off Americans, and they've never quite got what the European Union was. They kind of thought it was a bit like nafta, but it isn't. The European Union is a political union and a member state that joins it gives up its sovereignty, gives up the authority of its Supreme Court to another court somewhere else, accepts the fact that, that most of its laws, rules and regulations are made somewhere else and that the electors in a general election cannot vote to change any of that legislation. You effectively become. We became a satellite of this new entity called the eu. And of course, they've got their own flag, they've got their own anthem, and guess what? The people who run it, the commissioners, are not voted for by the people and can't be removed by the people. Now, this happened slowly. It evolved over time. It was sold to us as being. This is simple, it's trade, it's good.

[Michael Knowles]

For business, just an economic thing.

[Nigel Farage]

And don't worry your little heads about it. It'll all be fine. And you know, 30 years ago, 30 years ago, I looked at this and thought, what the hell, I mean, what did we fight two world wars for if it wasn't for us to be free, independent, sovereign people? And that was where my crusade started. So it was a political union and Brexit, I'll tell you what Brexit is in one word, independence, you know, simple as that. Simple as that.

[Michael Knowles]

There is a kind of parallel over here, I think. Cause it's not just that there's this fight for sovereignty, this fight for having your own nation that's going on in the uk, it's happening throughout Europe and it's happening here in the United States.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, it's the same battle, isn't it? It's actually really interesting because you know, the other side call us nationalists, you know, we're all very narrow minded and we hate everybody around the world. And the truth it is that actually what's going on here is there is a movement, a movement of those of us who believe that the nation state run democratically is the right model by which we should live. And that within that framework we trade with each other, we cooperate with each other, we share defense, intelligence and do many other things with each other. And I find it fascinating that it's almost like a family of us coming together who are fighting back against and you know, it is called globalism. And they want to do away with the nation state. They want us to be ashamed of our countries rather than proud of them. And they want a massive transfer of power from democracy to bureaucracy. And the great thing is, the great thing is, and it started in 2016. And let me just say this, we nearly always copy everything you guys do.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, thank you, I'm flying.

[Nigel Farage]

Anything America does, we follow good things and bad things, but you know, trends, fashions, whatever it is, we always follow you guys. This time you followed us. Brexit came first, the Trump revolution came afterwards. And the reason we're sitting here talking about this and three and a half years went by is because the establishment refused to accept the result of the referendum.

[Michael Knowles]

Right?

[Nigel Farage]

And we have had the most titanic political battle in our country since the 17th century to make sure the will of the people actually got obeyed. And you know what? On the 31st of January at 11pm finally happened, I was there in Parliament Square, there were a hundred thousand people there. And you know, you guys think the English are very reserved. They weren't. At 11 o'clock on that night, people were cheering and going mad. And we've got our own saying, perhaps.

[Ted Cruz]

A pint or two was flowing, I.

[Nigel Farage]

Think I was certainly downwind of a couple, but. And this is a major historic moment.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes.

[Nigel Farage]

I don't think it's just an historic moment for the United Kingdom. Listen, this is the beginning of the end of the European Union.

[Michael Knowles]

Do you think this will lead to other countries leaving?

[Nigel Farage]

Absolutely. And with the end of the European Union, we get the end of the globalist project. Now that doesn't mean they won't always keep on fighting. They will, because you will always get through history, mankind, those that want to dominate everybody else. But this is a big moment in our history.

[Ted Cruz]

So let's stop for a minute and let's go back to how this came to pass. When did the UK join the eu and how did Brexit start? When did you arrive in the European Parliament and take us back to the beginning of the Brexit movement? Not today, but where it got started.

[Nigel Farage]

Okay. In 1870. The Germans.

[Ted Cruz]

By the way, I love when I say take us back.

[Nigel Farage]

1870, well, that's almost modern. Yeah.

[Michael Knowles]

Remember, we're talking about a Pretty Old Country.

[Nigel Farage]

1870.

[Ted Cruz]

In the United States, when we say take us back, it's to 7:30am you.

[Nigel Farage]

Know, 1870, the Germans invade across the Rhine. 1914, the Germans invade across the RhinE. 1940, the Germans invade across.

[Michael Knowles]

Sing a pattern here.

[Nigel Farage]

Hold on now, there is a very bad joke I'm going to tell you. I asked a restaurant, her in Strasbourg once. I said, you get many Germans there? Or we said, you know, they pop by once every 25 years. But here's the point.

[Ted Cruz]

Hard to park the tanks.

[Nigel Farage]

Absolutely. But here's the point, you know, this, this endless battle over territory between France and Germany led to two world wars, led to hundreds of millions of deaths. And the thinking post war was we need to get the French and Germans together round the table to break bread. And the truth of it is, the more business, the more trade we do with each other, the less likely we are to hate each other and fight each other. So the original concept that we have a Europe that comes together was absolutely right. Unfortunately, those innocent beginnings turned into the attempt to build a new state.

[Michael Knowles]

Right. To build. And they wanted their own military and.

[Nigel Farage]

They now want their own army, they want their own air force and all the rest of it. And so what they've done is the ancient nations of Europe are now being consumed, having their identities taken away, their democracies taken away. And Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs. Thatcher, who initially had gone along with the European project believing that it was about.

[Michael Knowles]

She was your version of Ronald Reagan. Same time, same time.

[Nigel Farage]

Absolutely. And you know, I mean, listen, when Margaret took over the United Kingdom, we were a socialist country. We had top rate income tax of 83%. It's almost hard to believe the state we got into.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, and as she explained then, the problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money.

[Nigel Farage]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Ted Cruz]

Which is a message, by the way, Bernie Sanders and some American politicians could do to learn.

[Nigel Farage]

Oh, I love Bernie Sanders. I am.

[Ted Cruz]

You love.

[Nigel Farage]

I love him.

[Michael Knowles]

Why do you love Bernard?

[Nigel Farage]

I want to give some money to his campaign. Listen, if Bernie is the nominee, then you guys are just going to walk it in November.

[Michael Knowles]

57 states, we're going to win Greenland.

[Ted Cruz]

But, but, but, but I will say God help us if he wins in November.

[Nigel Farage]

Yeah, but the truth is, and we're seeing this across the whole of the Western world. Yeah. That the left parties are going further left. They delight their own echo chamber. But actually, the middle of our countries looks at this stuff and says, do you know what? We're not having this. So I think Bernie would be very, very interested.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, you know, I actually, this brings up an interesting point. I want to get to something where I think you agree on most of it, but I think you disagree a little bit on some of the particulars. And that is moving past Brexit to the Huawei controversy.

[Nigel Farage]

Yeah. Okay, let me just finish off.

[Michael Knowles]

Okay.

[Nigel Farage]

In 1988, Margaret Thatcher sussed what the European project was. She sussed it, all right, because the European Community was about to change its name to the European Union. And Margaret sussed it. She blew the whistle and they got rid of her because of it. They got rid of her because of it. Because all the big business, all the big banks and all the big money wanted it to go in that direction. And ever since she was gone, the Conservative Party in Britain ceased to be Conservative.

[Ted Cruz]

Ceased to be Conservative and literally gave away your sovereignty. It's a word you used earlier that I think goes really to the heart of what this is about, which is who's in charge. And the most fundamental notion, the American Constitution, begins with the words we the people, because sovereignty belongs to the people. And look, as I look at the eu, the sense I make of Brexit is the British people should decide the laws for Britain and not the damn French and not the Germans and not anybody else. And that's basic sovereignty.

[Nigel Farage]

That's who's in charge, not some anonymous bureaucrat. And of course, what we haven't even mentioned is we lost control of our borders as well. So in the early 90s, I joined. I started. I hoped to start a rebellion. And the rebellion was against the entire British establishment. It was against the Labour Party, it was against big business, but it was against the Conservative Party.

[Ted Cruz]

And how far out was it at the time? Like, when you started it, how much of a. With all due respect, of a loon did they think you were?

[Nigel Farage]

Oh, people used to say, I don't know what you're smoking, Nigel, but I'd like some of it. We were considered crazy. I campaigned all through the 1990s, and I think at many times during that period, you know, beginning to look a bit like the patron saint of lost causes. But I first got elected to the EU chamber in 1999, so nearly 21 years. I was there until January 31st. And we just slowly but surely developed momentum. And in the end. In the end, in 2014, in the European elections, I led UKIP. We won the election.

[Michael Knowles]

UKIP's the UK Independence Party.

[Nigel Farage]

It was the first time since 1906 that a party had won a national election that wasn't labor or Conservative. It was a short. And David Cameron was the Prime Minister. And he could see that I was destroying his Conservative Party, I mean, in.

[Michael Knowles]

The country, because he wasn't that Conservative on anything.

[Ted Cruz]

Right.

[Nigel Farage]

And so in the end, in the end, in an effort to save himself and to save the Conservative Party, he said, we'll give you a referendum. That's how it came to be. As I say, we had the referendum, we won the referendum. I thought it was all done and dusted. I thought, great, fabulous. I can get on with the rest of my life. We then got betrayed again because they.

[Michael Knowles]

Didn'T give you the Brexit that the people voted for.

[Nigel Farage]

They just didn't wanna deliver it. They didn't wanna deliver it. And so then we had to refight the battle again in 2019, which I did. I set up the Brexit party, and within six weeks of founding it, I won the European elections, and the Conservative Party got less than 10% of the vote. Their worst result in 200 years. And the very next morning, before the results were out, Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister. So I can say with some, you know, sort of quite a boast, I suppose, that I have got rid of two British prime ministers, and now we've got Boris and the eu, and now we've got Boris, and, you know, at the moment, he's keeping all his promises. At the moment, the negotiating position is right, so that's good. I couldn't be happier with that. I mean.

[Ted Cruz]

So, Nigel, help an American understand why Brexit matters to the man in the street, why Brexit matters to a British shopkeeper. What's different in your life as a result of Brexit?

[Nigel Farage]

Well, first and foremost, if you believe in your nation and if you believe in your flag and if you believe in your identity and you believe in your history and you believe in what your grandparents generation did for freedom and liberty, not just in your country, but in the rest of Europe too, then the desire to be independent, the desire to be free is something, Ted, you can't put a price on. Sure, you can't put a price on. Now, if I'm running a small business, don't forget Napoleon called us a nation of shopkeepers once. Funny, isn't it?

[Ted Cruz]

Which I consider high praise.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, 200 years ago, the French thought it was an insult to say the British were full of entrepreneurs. But. But if I'm running that business, all right, every rule and regulation that affects me, from employment law to health and safety at work to environmental law, whatever it may be, all of that law has been coming to me from the European Union and there's no political party I can vote for at elections that'll change that.

[Michael Knowles]

There's no accountability that they could possibly have.

[Nigel Farage]

Now with Brexit, we can have proper fights, proper arguments, proper debates about how many people should come into our country, what we should do with environmental law. So actually, if I'm that shopkeeper.

[Ted Cruz]

You mean you actually have democracy now?

[Nigel Farage]

Isn't it amazing? Isn't it remarkable? You know, and to think that, to think that, you know, Westminster, that amazing palace of Westminster that we, and called by so many the Mother of Parliaments, had given all that away.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, and Nigel, look, this is a consistent pattern in Britain, in the us, leftists hate democracy because when the people can choose, they don't choose what the leftists want. So they want an institution they can dominate of faceless, soulless bureaucrats to govern and rule. This is about power and who has.

[Nigel Farage]

Power, but also about their sort of supposed moral authority. Because they think they're better people than us. Yes, they genuinely think they're better people than us. They know better, they know better how to run our lives than we, the peasants.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, this is what it comes down to. When Brexit happened, it was so interesting because Americans loved it. American conservatives were cheering you on. I mean, we were so excited.

[Ted Cruz]

And I thought, all right, tell us about your farewell speech.

[Nigel Farage]

Oh, yes, so. So I've done two farewell speeches because the first was in 2016, after the referendum. And that was what I. That was. When I got up, I thought, well, maybe today they'll treat me with some respect. Oh, no. Oh, no. I got up and 500 people started booing and jeering. And that was when I thought, I'm going to let it. I'm just going to let them have a lot today. And that's when I said, when I came here 18 years ago, I said to you, I would lead a campaign to take Britain out of the European Union. And you all laughed at me. Well, I said, you're not laughing now, are you? But the last. Last speech, which we knew was the end, properly the end, and I thought, look, you know, let's leave, let's go, sort of a little bit cheerfully. So we had our little Union Jacks and we're saying goodbye, and the humorless, faceless, ghastly bureaucratic woman who was in the chair cut my microphone off.

[Ted Cruz]

So you're waving the British flag and it's almost like you're holding a cross up to vampires. I mean, they're recoiling.

[Nigel Farage]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael Knowles]

I want to know.

[Nigel Farage]

Because they hate the nation state. They want to abolish the nation state. So anyway, she cut the microphone off, which has never happened to me in 21 years there.

[Ted Cruz]

And we will not cut your microphone off.

[Michael Knowles]

Not here, not on the show.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, not yet, you know, and. And she said, oh, you're leaving anyway. Take your flags and go. And you know something? That's what we did.

[Michael Knowles]

You did, exactly.

[Nigel Farage]

We took our flags and we left.

[Michael Knowles]

Senator, I want to know from your perspective as an American, as an American senator, what Brexit means for us, because I think we were cheering it on in many ways, because so many of the frustrations you're describing we feel here in America.

[Ted Cruz]

Look, I think it is a powerful statement of sovereignty and of independence. It is shaking off the yokes of a tyrannical government that's not listening to the people. And, you know, I think back to when you had the referendum and Barack Obama came over there and lectured the British people. He condescended. And you know what? You talk about thinking you're someone's intellectual better. Barack Obama, just like the mandarins that run the eu, believed he was the moral and intellectual better. And I remember thinking, gosh, that can't be good for the forces that want to stay in the EU to have Obama condescending and hectoring the British voters.

[Nigel Farage]

It was the way. There was a big BBC interview and it was the way he just looked down his nose at the country that has been your closest friend and ally for 100 years, with whom we've spent much blood and treasure, you know, and been through some tough times and some good times together. It was shocking. It was shocking. We would go to the back of the line if we dared to leave the eu.

[Ted Cruz]

And see. And see. I'll admit it at the time. So I was rooting for Brexit, but I kept my mouth shut at it because it wasn't my responsibility. What I said at the time is, you know what? This is a determination for the British people if they choose to leave the eu. That's a decision of national sovereignty. They have the right to make that choice. But who am I to tell them how they should decide this? This is a decision for the British people. And you know what? We wouldn't appreciate Boris Johnson coming over and telling us how to run our country. And so we shouldn't. We should show you that same respect.

[Nigel Farage]

It was a big mistake. It was a huge miscalculation. Cameron thought it was the absolute ace card in the pack. In fact, the British people were revolted by Obama, and I think he sort of added about 1% to our score. So we're quite grateful. I mean, look, thanks, Obama going on from here. I mean, look, you know, we're the biggest investor in the usa. We're the biggest overseas investor in your country. You're the biggest overseas investor in our country. We share a language. All right, I know we sound a bit different, but we share a language.

[Michael Knowles]

Not everyone can have as refined an accent as we Americans have.

[Nigel Farage]

And we quite. And we have an amazing shared history together.

[Ted Cruz]

Although there is the complaint from My Fair lady of why can't the British teach their children how to speak?

[Nigel Farage]

Yes, I know. We have shared intelligence. We have been. You're the big guys, but without the two of us, NATO wouldn't even exist.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Nigel Farage]

All right. And going on, there's some real work to do on organizations like NATO. And so there's so many opportunities now between us. You know, we should be buying Levi's jeans and Harley Davidsons without tariffs, and you should be buying Jaguar motorcars and Scottish whiskey without tariffs.

[Michael Knowles]

I could cheers to that.

[Nigel Farage]

It's not difficult.

[Ted Cruz]

You didn't bring any Scotch whiskey.

[Nigel Farage]

Not today. I do, but here's the problem. Here's the problem. And you touched on it earlier, despite my being joyous at where we are and with Brexit, and I now want to go out around the rest of Europe and spread the rebellion, because I now Want Europe to leave the eu. And that's my next, by the way.

[Ted Cruz]

Who's next?

[Nigel Farage]

Well, that depends. That depends on the economics of. Could be Italy or Greece the next time we have a serious economic downturn because they're in the wrong currency. Right. The euro is great for Germany, it's.

[Michael Knowles]

Great for Germany, not so great for.

[Nigel Farage]

Italy because they've got a devalued currency effectively. So it's very good for them. Selling motor cars into America and everything else.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, you were also sharing the frustrations of the Eastern European countries.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, I was. And so this is interesting. The west of Europe, led culturally by the French, has become fanatical about multiculturalism and a whole series of very, very woke type issues. Listen, these Hungarians and these Poles are very traditional countries, very Christian countries, very proud of their identity. I mean, goodness me, these countries have suffered under communism, Nazism. Millions of their people have been exterminated.

[Ted Cruz]

Soviet tanks are a real memory for an awful lot of those citizens.

[Nigel Farage]

Absolutely. And you know, it's only 30 years ago that they broke free and suddenly you've got bureaucrats in Brussels telling them who can sit on their high court what to do about gay marriage and many other issues. So you've got the economic north south split, you've got the cultural east west split. I don't know who's next. All I do know is that the phenomenal opportunities that we've got to bring back together the English speaking peoples of the world. I mean, this is what Churchill used to talk about. And you know what? He was absolutely right then and it's absolutely right now. But I do fear that Boris Johnson's decision to allow Huawei into our, into helping to build our new 5G company.

[Michael Knowles]

Huawei is this Chinese technology company?

[Nigel Farage]

Yeah, it's a Chinese technology company. But here's the point. There's no such thing in China as a private company. This is a communist state, a communist dictatorship. I'd say Boris's decision on Huawei at the minute has put things on hold. I mean, for example, there is no date in the diary for Boris Johnson to come and visit Trump at the White House. Now this should have been happening very, very quickly. I even worry that with Huawei on the scene, whether Congress at the moment would even pass because the should be separate. But are they?

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah. So let me explain this a little bit. Huawei is this giant telecom company that is owned and controlled by the Chinese government. The Chinese government is investing billions in building a global surveillance network. And they come to countries all over the world. And they offer incredibly cheap telecom equipment. And it's a little bit like the drug dealer that shows up at a junior high and says, psst, just try this. That's what Huawei is doing.

[Michael Knowles]

Wow.

[Ted Cruz]

And the problem, the reason they're doing it, they're not doing it to make money. They're doing it to install surveillance equipment. Britain, unfortunately, just announced that they're going to install Huawei equipment on some of their telecom infrastructure. One of the big problems with that. So there is this thing called five eyes. Now, what does five eyes means? Five eyes is an alliance of five countries. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. And we share the most sensitive intelligence and security. So if we intercept communications between the Russians and the Chinese, we share that amongst ourselves. Now, here's the problem from US national security perspective. If Huawei equipment is installed in the uk, we've got a serious problem sharing our intelligence with the uk. And listen, we are strong friends of the British. We will remain strong friends of the British. But I hope the British government reverses its decision on Huawei. And if they don't, I think we will have to reevaluate the five eyes relationship. And I'll tell you right now, four eyes are better than six eyes.

[Nigel Farage]

Right?

[Michael Knowles]

Right. You don't want that sixth eye.

[Nigel Farage]

That's a great quote. And I'm going to take that home with me. I'm going to make sure through British media and British conservative politicians understand and hear that message loud and clear. This is a mistake. It needs to be reversed.

[Ted Cruz]

We love and trust the British, but we're not interested in having our most sensitive intelligence intercepted by the Chinese and read by the Chinese Communist government.

[Michael Knowles]

You know, we have just about a minute left, and I'm sorry, we haven't even gotten to the most important issue. I know. This is the one we've been on the edge of our seats about. We've talked about Brexit. We have to talk about Mexico, Meghan Markle breaking up your royal family.

[Nigel Farage]

Look, you know, Harry, he's not had the easiest of lives. You know, the mother dying and some tough things happening. He found his way in the world. He joined the army. He loved the army. He did two tours of Afghanistan. He held some very distinguished positions. Captain General of our Royal Marines and many other things. And then he married Meghan. I'm sorry. If you're born into wealth and privilege in the Royal family, you're also born into duty. Right? And they told the Queen they wanted to keep the royal titles, go to the west coast to LA and make money, not do any royal engagements. They wanted to, as we say in England, have their cake and eat it. And the Queen, at nearly 94 years old, has put her foot down and said, God save the Queen, and said, you no longer can call yourselves his and Her Royal Highness. You no longer effectively are members of the royal family. You are private citizens. Now get on an airplane and go off to the west coast, go off to Vancouver island, go off to la, because we don't want you here anymore. Isn't the Queen truly wonderful?

[Michael Knowles]

She is so wonderful.

[Nigel Farage]

She's wonderful because we couldn't have, we couldn't have our monarchy being devalued like this and become.

[Ted Cruz]

So let me ask you on a personal level, how genuinely pissed do you think they are at each other?

[Nigel Farage]

Oh, listen, the Queen is old enough to have lived through our disastrous short reign of Edward viii, who of course, as we found out later, was a Nazi sympathizer and many other things. And the royal family got rid of him, banished him. He lived in Paris for the rest of his life. And I think she takes the view that Harry and Meghan, if they stayed in the United Kingdom, would do the royal family immense damage. And for anyone that's watched the Crown in a couple of years time, this would be the best episode ever.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, I will say though, seeing them pal around with Hollywood liberals, I apologize for the impact of our country on.

[Michael Knowles]

Corrupting your second American.

[Nigel Farage]

But you know what? You're welcome to it.

[Michael Knowles]

All right, well, now that we've at least touched on the most important topic, I think we have got to let you go.

[Nigel Farage]

Thank you.

[Michael Knowles]

Nigel Farage. Thank you so much for being here. Senator. Thank you for having such illustrious friends and giving the vantage of a US Senator to the man who just broke the European Union. We'll have to cause a little bit more trouble on future episodes. That is our show. I'm Michael Knowles. This is Verdict with Ted Cruz. Foreign.

[Unknown]

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom and Security pac, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations and candidates across the country. In 2022, jobs, freedom and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.