UKIP leader causes stir at travel conference
UKIP leader Nigel Farage’s appearance at the Institute of Travel and Tourism conference caused the usual controversy.
But on this occasion it was not due to what he said.
Instead opinion was split about him speaking in the first place and the fact he was photographed in the early hours of the morning with the association’s commercial director, Ande Soteri.
The MEP and UKIP leader was featured on the front page of the Daily Mirror holding the hand of Ms Soteri.
But Farage dismissed any suggestions of impropriety as ‘ridiculous’.
Speaking from Malta Mr Farage told the Telegraph: "There isn’t much to say. I was at a party in a bar next to the hotel and we walked back to the hotel and went to bed. I didn’t go to bed with her.
"She is disabled. She has a stick and I had to help her walk the 50 yards from the bar to the hotel. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in the whole of my life."
Delegates took to social media to discuss his presentation at the ITT conference in Malta which finished yesterday.
One said: "There was a room of 400 cynical people before he went on but I’m afraid to say I have never witnessed a speaker turn an audience 180 degrees in less time in all my days.
"Can’t wait to see the reactions of delegates on social media – but maybe they’ll hide their views in case they get accused of being closet racists."
Another added: "It’s kinda ironic that Nigel Farage was overseas trousering ‘speaking’ pounds from the ITT about preserving Britain’s British-ness rather than at home listening to the Queen’s speech. How patriotic!"
On announcing Farage as an ITT conference speaker in March, ITT Chairman Steven Freudmann said: "We are delighted to announce Nigel Farage as our keynote speaker.
"With so many issues emanating from the EU that affect the UK travel industry, we felt it was very appropriate that Farage should address the industry, and that we can make our own views known to him," he said.
The ITT said Nigel Farage would be the first political party leader to speak at a UK travel industry conference.
Diane
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