The EU referendum battle took to the water today as Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof clashed on the River Thames.
The Ukip leader led a flotilla of fishing boats up the river towards Parliament this afternoon to protest against EU fishing policies.
But pop star and activist Sir Bob Geldof steered a counter measure against the flotilla, and from his own boat heckled the Ukip leader through a loud speaker system.
Geldof, who was joined on the In boat by Rachel Johnson, the sister of Leave campaigner Boris, blasted Farage as a “fraud” and even made a ‘wanker’ gesture at the MEP.
Farage refused to hurl insults back at Geldof, claiming he was not going to sink to his level – appropriate as he was on a boat at the time.
As soon as the boat carrying Farage set sail from just east of Tower Bridge this morning, Geldof’s vessel sprung into action.
With the ‘60s soul classic ‘The In Crowd’ blasting out from a powerful Tannoy system, the boat pulled up alongside Farage’s smaller boat.
While senior Ukip members such as former London Mayoral candidate Peter Whittle, MEP David Coburn and donor Arron Banks looked on, Geldof took to the mic to launch a tirade against Farage.
After accusing him of not being “fisherman’s friend” and taking him to task for his non-attendance of European Parliament fishing committee – Farage turned up to just one out of 42 meetings while a member – Geldof joined with others to make the wanker gesture at the Ukip leader.
Farage tried his best to ignore the pop star, but Scottish MEP David Coburn had no such reservations, and branded Geldof and his pals as “millionaires for Remain”.
He added: “The guy has got a big mouth, he was a crap pop star and he’s not even British as far as I understand, he’s from the Irish Republic, he hasn’t got a say in the matter.”
While there seemed to be many smiling faces on Geldof’s boat, it was not all fun on the high seas.
Some Leave supporting vessels, who were manned by fishermen, pulled up alongside the boat and sprayed it with hoses.
One protestor on board Geldof’s ship actually disembarked out of frustration with what was going on.
EMBED CODE: Remain Campaigner Slams Swearing Geldof
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A boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group sprays a boat from the 'In' campaign with water.
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Sir Bob Geldof gives his view on Nigel Farage
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A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldof shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A police boat chases pro-Remain campaingers in inflatable dinghies as they try to disrupt a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union as they sail up the river Thames.
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A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldof (C) shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A police boat chases pro-Remain campaigners in inflatable dinghies.
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A boat decked out in flags and banners from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group.
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Supporters of the EU Remain camp attach banners to Tower Bridge as they await a flotilla of fishing boats campaigning for Brexit to pass under the bridge.
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A boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group and smaller boats from the 'In' campaign join a flotilla along the Thames River .
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A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldof (C) shout and wave.
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A man wearing a Union Jack shirt and shorts stands on board a boat from the 'Fishing for Leave'.
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Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group join a flotilla.
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Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
People wave balloons and and flags.
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group.
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Musician and campaigner Bob Geldof (C) joins a counter demonstration.
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Remain campaigners in dinghies try to disrupt a demonstration by a flotilla of fishing vessels.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A pro-Remain inflatable dinghy sails in front of a flotilla of fishing vessels.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Pro-Remain campaigners sail an inflatable dinghy.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Pro-Remain campaigners sail an inflatable dinghy past a flotilla.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A boat forming part of a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A pro-Remain inflatable dinghy sails in front of a flotilla of fishing vessels.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
The crew stands on the deck of a boat.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A police boat chases pro-Remain campaigners in inflatable dinghies as they try to disrupt a flotilla of fishing vessels.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
A pro-Remain inflatable dinghy sails in front of a flotilla of fishing vessels .
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A boat forming part of a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" makes its way along the River Thames in London.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Bob Geldof on board a boat taking part in a pro-EU counter demonstration.
BEN STANSALL via Getty Images
A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats.
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Nigel Farage (L) leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, waves from one of the boats in a flotilla.
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Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe come alongside Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party in a boat to ask him to be a guest on their television show 'The Last Leg' 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.
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Nigel Farage poses in a passenger boat.
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Comedian, Josh Widdicombe sails down the River Thames in London to show his support for staying the EU in next week's referendum.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
