U2 singer Bono has said he will wave the EU flag on stage when the band kick off their European tour in Berlin this Friday in what he has labelled a “provocative” act of support for Europe as Brexit negotiations drag on.

In a dig at the British who live in Northern Ireland the outspoken frontman said: “The Irish used to feel closer to Europe than we did to some of the people on our island.”

Writing in German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, the singer, who has been a fierce critic of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, said it is the job of a rock star to shock.

I’m told a rock band is at its best when it’s a little transgressive: when it pushes the bounds of so-called good taste, when it shocks, when it surprises,” he wrote.

Well, U2 is kicking off its tour in Berlin this week, and we’ve just had one of our more provocative ideas: during the show we’re going to wave a big, bright, blue EU flag.

I’m guessing that even to a rock audience, waving an EU flag these days is either an annoyance, a bore, a kitsch reference to the Eurovision Song Contest but to some of us it has become a radical act.”

 

Ireland is a place with a special emotional connection to Europe, and the idea of it.

Maybe it’s because Ireland is a tiny rock in a big sea, eager to be part of something larger than ourselves (for most things are larger than ourselves).

Maybe it’s because we used to feel closer to Europe than we did to some of the people on our island.”

As a European I feel proud thinking back to when Germans welcomed frightened Syrian refugees (I’d feel prouder had more countries stepped up); proud of Europe’s fight to end extreme poverty and climate change; and, yes, extraordinarily proud of the Good Friday Agreement and how other countries have rallied behind Ireland on the border issue, revived by Brexit.

I feel privileged to have witnessed the longest stretch of peace and prosperity ever on the European continent.

But all these achievements are under threat, because respect for diversity – the premise of the whole European system – is being challenged.”

He also thanked the EU for supporting Ireland in the row over what will happen to the Irish border if and when Brexit happens.

Conservative MP and Brexit backer Nigel Evans, has slammed Bono’s comments saying:

As Germany descends into riots, cars burning in the streets of Sweden, high levels of youth unemployment in Spain and Greece and the rise of anti EU movements throughout major EU countries, I’m sure the news that an uber rich musician who is financially isolated from the misery that the EU has inflicted on so many people will be of no surprise.

Bono has saved so much money from marginalizing his tax take over the years maybe giving away this money to the millions of victims of EU policies will be better received than empty gestures of odes and flag waving at concerts.”

U2 have long supported the whole concept of the European Union. The cover of their 1993 album Zooropa even featured 12 stars of the EU flag.  He is also worth hundreds of millions and is at the forefront of any luvvie cause. Like his countryman Bob Geldof these kinds of actions will only drive more people to support leaving the EU it has been said.

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David Clews

Lead Correspondent | David Clews is the Lead Correspondent for UNN, with over 20 years of political/campaigning experience and a wealth of social media and communication skills David gets to the heart of what is really important to the real people of the UK.

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