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The departing Ukip leader, who was at the forefront of efforts to lead Britain out of the EU, said it was “clear” the bloc was not going to learn from the UK’s decision to quit. Mr Farage was responding to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s grandstanding annual ‘State of the Union’ speech in the European Parliament, in which the unelected politician repeatedly took sideswipes at Britain’s democratic Brexit vote - seemingly dismissing it at dangerous populism. Mr Juncker had said: "Far too often national interests are brought to the fore. We shouldn't misunderstand this - European integration must not bow to the interests of the nation state.” But Mr Farage retorted: “Having listened to what you said this morning all I can say is I'm pleased we voted to leave. “It's clear there are no lessons that are going to be learned from Brexit.”

Mr Farage, who will officially step down as the leader of Ukip later this week, derided the EU for offering “more Europe” as the “usual recipe” despite the bloc’s multiple crises. Following Mr Juncker’s earlier call for a “common military force” across the EU, Mr Farage hit out at the demands for “more military Europe”. He told MEPs in Strasbourg: “I don't know about a project of peace, I would have thought this is probably a very dangerous move.”

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TV Jean-Claude Juncker reacts to Mr Farage's speech

Mr Farage told Mr Juncker and other EU officials their push for military integration was not going to reverse rising euroscepticism across the continent. He said: “It isn't going to change the rapid growth in opposition parties across the whole of Europe “It isn't going to stop the central, eastern European countries from saying no to [German chancellor] Angela Merkel's migrant quotas. “And I think you've got a lot more referendums to look forward to.” The anti-EU campaigner admitted the bloc was “probably right to be slightly critical” of Prime Minister Theresa May who “ought to get on with” Brexit. Mr Farage said it was “pretty clear that the EU is getting on with it” as he highlighted how the bloc had “already appointed your divorce lawyers”. Mr Juncker had earlier repeated his call for Britain to hurry up and trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would kickstart exit negotiations.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TV Nigel Farage accused the European Parliament of a 'declaration of war'

I think you've got a lot more referendums to look forward to Nigel Farage

But Mr Farage lashed out at the European Parliament’s decision to appoint outspoken Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt as their lead negotiator over the UK’s exit. He branded the arch-federalist a “fanatic” and called for MEPs to correct their “mistake” and replace Mr Verhofstadt with “somebody who actually likes the UK”. He said: “If you think of this building as a temple then Mr Verhofstadt is the high priest. A fanatic. “In fact there is only one real nationalist in the room and it's you. “Because you want flags, anthems, armies, you are an EU nationalist and I frankly think that this appointment amounts to pretty much a declaration of war on any sensible negotiating process.” WHO IS GUY VERHOFSTADT?

GETTY The departing Ukip leader branded MEP Guy Verhofstadt a 'fanatic'