The European Union’s new President, Herman van Rompuy, got more of a reaction to his maiden parliamentary speech than he bargained for.

British eurosceptic MEP, Nigel Farage, stunned the chamber by firing off a stream of insults when the EU’s newest leader sat down.

Nigel Farage, who is known for his outspokenness said: “We were told that when we had a president we’d see a giant global figure – the man would be the political leader for 500 million people – well I’m afraid what we got was you.”

Farage continued: “And I’m sorry, but after that performance earlier that you gave… and I don’t want to be rude, but you know really… you have the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low grade bank clerk. Sir, you have no legitimacy in this job at all, and I can say with confidence that I can speak on behalf of the majority of the British people in saying, we don’t know you, we don’t want you, and the sooner you are put out-to-grass the better.”

Afterwards, appearing to be slightly disgruntled, Van Rompuy reacted in his own typically low-key way by saying he held the remarks in contempt, but that he would not comment further.

Copyright © 2012 euronews