A reported sighting of ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage queuing at the German embassy has sparked a social media storm, after assumptions he was applying for citizenship.
Farage’s wife, Kirsten Mehr, is a German national, entitling him to citizenship in the country through marriage. Farage would be a surprise addition to the growing list of English nationals seeking dual citizenship, after spending his entire career gunning for the UK to leave the European Union.
When asked what he was doing at the German embassy, the UKIP MEP’s refusal to deny the assumption only fuelled the speculations; he told BuzzFeed News on the phone that his presence at the embassy was “none of your business.”
The Facebook post which sparked the controversy was published by Leonie Witte, who speculated over Farage’s motives:
“I guess he realised he really kinda screwed us over and is quickly trying to also get some dual citizenship.”
Many took to social media to ridicule Farage – something he is no stranger to – and express their indignation at his actions.
@SLATUKIP @NickStevenson63 WTF? Farage campaigns to deprive whole UK of EU citizenship & then tries to get EU citizenship himself?
— Isolated Brit (@IsolatedBrit) August 15, 2016
WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK bleats French descendant @Nigel_Farage for a decade, before moving to Germany
???— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) August 16, 2016
Dear Nigel Farage.
Yours, Germany. pic.twitter.com/jfQItJSE2v
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) August 16, 2016
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Farage was at the embassy in connection with obtaining a dual citizenship for his children.