There were farcical scenes on the river Thames in central London as a pro-Leave flotilla was intercepted by Remain boats on 15 June. The Fishing for Leave campaign, made up of more than 30 vessels, sailed through Tower Bridge towards the Houses of Parliament, where they planned to protest during Prime Minister's Questions.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage was giving an interview aboard one of the Brexit boats, when a boat carrying Sir Bob Geldof pulled up alongside, playing the Dobie Gray song "The 'In' Crowd" over loudspeakers, drowning Farage out. Brexit campaigners retaliated by trying to drive off a Remain vessel with a jet of water. Meanwhile, police boats tried to round up tiny pro-Remain dinghies buzzing around the flotilla.
Geldof told Farage: "You are no fisherman's friend," adding he should "go back down the river because you are up one without a canoe or a paddle." Farage described Geldof's protest as disgusting. He argued EU membership had "destroyed our industry" because of access to a common resource. He said: "We want our waters back."
Dinghies from the 'In' campaign join a 'Vote Leave' flotilla along the ThamesJack Taylor/Getty ImagesUK Independence party leader Nigel Farage poses on a boat as he accompanies the Brexit flotilla of fishing boats on the ThamesBen Stansall/AFPSupporters for the Remain in the EU campaign, including Sir Bob Geldof, shout and wave at Brexit fishing boatsBen Stansall/AFPA boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group sprays a boat from the 'In' campaign with waterJack Taylor/Getty ImagesPro-Remain campaingers in an inflatable dinghy they try to disrupt a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European UnionStefan Wermuth/ReutersA police boat chases pro-Remain campaigners in inflatable dinghies as they try to disrupt the 'Vote Leave' flotillaStefan Wermuth/ReutersFishing for Leave vessels sail past the Tower of LondonBen Stansall/AFPA boat forming part of a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union sails up the ThamesStefan Wermuth/ReutersA fishing boat sailed by a group campaigning for Brexit passes in front of the City skylineBen Stansall/AFPA boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign sails up the ThamesBen Stansall/AFPSupporters of the Remain camp attach banners to Tower Bridge as they wait for a flotilla of fishing boats campaigning for Brexit to pass under the bridgeBen Stansall/AFPA boat decked out in flags and banners from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group sails on the ThamesJack Taylor/Getty ImagesA boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group and smaller boats from the 'In' campaign join a flotilla along the ThamesJack Taylor/Getty ImagesA man wearing a Union Jack shirt and shorts stands on board a boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign groupJack Taylor/Getty ImagesNigel Farage poses for photographers on a boat on the ThamesJack Taylor/Getty ImagesA Brexit boat towards Parliament as Remain campaigners hang banners from Westminster BridgePeter Nicholls/ReutersA Brexit bus is driven past Remain campaigners hanging a large banner from Westminster BridgeStefan Wermuth/ReutersRemain campaigners in an inflatable dinghy try to disrupt a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union as it sails up to ParliamentStefan Wermuth/ReutersThe Brexit flotilla arrives at the Houses of ParliamentBen Stansall/AFPNigel Farage poses as his boat passes the Houses of ParliamentBen Stansall/AFPNigel Farage and Labour MP Kate Hoey pose on a boat as they accompany the Brexit flotilla past the Houses of ParliamentBen Stansall/AFPAdam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe come alongside Nigel Farage's boat to ask him to be a guest on their television show The Last LegJeff Spicer/Getty ImagesNigel Farage shows his support for the 'Leave' campaign aboard a boat on the ThamesJeff Spicer/Getty Images
UPDATED WITH THEME TUNE: The state of British politics summed up in a clip of a flotilla face-off pic.twitter.com/wK9PKylmJN
The Brexit flotilla stunt comes with just eight day to go until the 23 June referendum, with the latest opinion poll putting the race almost neck-and-neck. The online ComRes survey for The Sun, of more than 1,000 people between 9 and 13 June, put Remain on 46% (-6) and Leave on 45% (+4), with 9% of respondents undecided.
