While some in the Green and Left groups have criticised this as a violation of democratic principles given the size of the Farage group, there appears to be a sort of cordon sanitaire in place. So, good luck with effective opposition from there.

I guess they are scared of something, huh?

Look, bonding with Farage may well be the dumbest thing they ever did, I grant you that. It never warmed my fuzzies either. If it was a gamble to get their ball upfield and then the goalposts were moved, then we get to see how EU realpolitik rolls, that's always good! Cordon sanitaire, good one.

But what you don't reflect on it seems is that MV5 haven't espoused Farage's platform, they just have some coincident goals, primarily sorting out this dog's dinner of a currency foisted on us. (Not that it's the currency per se that's at fault, just its ridiculous mis-management.) If it weren't for the rules being as they are I guarantee they wouldn't have done it. A lot of their followers are gagging on it and unless it leads to better ends, it may cost them big time at the box.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty