Nigel Farage says promises made by Brexit campaigners were ‘mildly irresponsible’

Nigel Farage has admitted some of the pledges made by Brexit supporters in the run-up to the EU referendum were “mildly irresponsible”.

Brexiteers who spearheaded the campaign to persuade the British people to leave the EU have been heavily scrutinised after a number of pledges appear to have been backtracked on, including a Vote Leave campaign poster that promised to spend £350 million of EU funding a week on the NHS and plans to create a points-based immigration system.

When challenged over the failed promises, the former Ukip leader and prominent Brexit campaigner told Bloomberg that some pledges were “mildly irresponsible”, adding “there were lots of promises – lots of ideas get discussed at any election”.

The admissions occurred on the same day European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker gave his annual speech to the European Parliament — which was rife with awkward truths. 

With Britain walking away and some eastern nations routinely showing open hostility, the European Union's chief painted a bleak picture of the bloc and implored the 27 remaining nations to stop bickering at a time when ever more people question its relevance.

"We should admit we have many unresolved problems," he said. "The facts are plain: The world is getting bigger. And we are getting smaller."

Mr Junker used his speech to call for a joint command headquarters for EU military missions and greater defence cooperation, reviving long-running efforts to reduce reliance on the United States. 

He said no single EU government had a military large enough to deal with security challenges facing Europe, from Islamic militants to a more hostile Russia and echo a plan put forward this week by France and Germany.

“We must have a European headquarters and so we should work towards a common military force,” Mr Juncker said, although officials stressed this did not amount to an EU army.

“This should be to complement NATO,” he said, also outlining proposals for a common defence fund.

Mr Farage, who is still an MEP after stepping down as Ukip leader, then launched into a scathing attack on the EU, saying a “declaration of war” had been issued on any sensible Brexit negotiations.

A weary-eyed Mr Junker was seen holding his head in his hands as Mr Farage accused the European Parliament of already appointing its “divorce lawyers” by selecting Guy Verhofstadt as its chief Brexit negotiator.