Bonfire night 2014: Kent town to burn José Manuel Barroso effigy as Ukip embraces Guy Fawkes comparison
As Brits prepare to celebrate the night Guy Fawkes was apprehended in his infamous attempt in to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, a bonfire society in the idyllic town of Edenbridge is taking the opportunity to make its Eurosceptic leanings felt.
The Edenbridge Bonfire Society is planning to burn a 10 metre tall effigy of the outgoing President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso on 8 November.
The society, which has been around for 20 years, usually chooses an unpopular or controversial figure making the news around bonfire night.
(Source: Edenbridge Bonfire Society/Facebook)
The society's choice effigy was down to the EU's decision to stick Britain with a bill of an extra €2.1bn (£1.7bn). The bill came thanks to the way Brussels calculates what each member state pays towards the EU.
Because the UK is growing significantly faster than its partners in the Eurozone, it is on the hook for more contributions. Charles Lever, chairman of the society, said:
The UK tried harder to sort out our economy than our European neighbours and we now get slapped with an extra bill, so Joe public ends up suffering twice over!
(Source: Edenbridge Bonfire Society/Facebook)
Last year, former Apprentice contestant and Sun columnist Katie Hopkins was deemed fit to be burnt an effigy. The 30 foot effigy had the words "speak before you think." written across it.
Britain's most Eurosceptic party was more than happy to join in the fun at Barroso's expense.
A Ukip spokesman told City A.M.:
What do Guy Fawkes and Barroso have in common? Both tried and failed to destroy the British Parliament.
Other famous faces to endure the society's displeasure have included Russell Brand, Tony and Cherie Blair, and Gordon Brown.
However, it's not just Edenbridge having all the fun at political leaders' expense. The town of Lewes in East Sussex will soon be putting the torch to a giant Alex Salmond.
https://twitter.com/RobDotHutton/status/530018669615923200
Scotland's fourth First Minister was also in the running for the Edenbridge effigy, but the EU's timely row with Britain snatched it for Barroso. John Mitchell, a member of the Edenbridge Bonfire Society commented:
We thought very hard about burning not just Alex but all the Scottish Yes voters as well for trying to breal up the Union, but eventually decided to let them off!