Strasbourg: Brexit champion Nigel Farage on Wednesday outraged the European Parliament on Wednesday when he branded the EU as "gangsters" and "mafia" over its negotiation demands.


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As the European parliament prepared to vote on its red lines for Brexit talks, former UK Independence Party chief Farage said the European Union was treating Britain like a hostage.


"You are behaving like the mafia. You think we are a hostage. We are not. We are free to go," he said, triggering cries of indignation and jeers from many of his fellow MEPs.


The parliament`s Italian chief Antonio Tajani interrupted Farage to say it was "unacceptable" for him to compare the parliament to the mafia.


"Mr President, I do understand national sensitivities. I will change it to gangsters and that is how we are being treated. We are being given a ransom note," Farage replied. 


Farage blasted the EU over its demands to negotiate divorce terms before striking a post-Brexit trade deal, as well as its stance on the British territory of Gibraltar and its multi-billion dollar exit bill.


Farage joined British fury after the European Union said last week that Spain should have a veto on extending any trade deal to Gibraltar after the British leave the bloc.


"Gibraltar is clearly a deal breaker," Farage said.