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Ming is on a 'bad list' with a Nazi supporter ... and he's not impressed

The Irish politician features on a list dubbed the ‘most embarrassing MEPs’.

LUKE ‘MING’ FLANAGAN has received the dubious honour of appearing on a list of the “most embarrassing members of the European Parliament”.

The list was compiled by Business Insider UK and includes a Holocaust denier, a man who tried to nominate Hitler’s deputy for a Nobel Peace Prize, and a woman who said it’s “better to be a fascist that a  f**got”.

Flanagan told TheJournal.ie the journalist who wrote the article mustn’t “understand the English language”.

business insider ming Business Insider UK Business Insider UK

He said it was bizarre that the website compared a man who campaigns for the prohibition of drugs to be repealed to a Nazi sympathiser.

Voting in a Nazi is not embarrassing, it’s sick … I hope their advertisers have spotted this and they run a mile.

The Midlands-North West MEP said the days of Irish people taking direction from Britain on how to vote are “long over”.

Have they learned nothing? We don’t take heed from them.

Flanagan said the current mayor of London, Conservative Boris Johnson, could well become the next British Prime Minister. He noted that if he does, journalists there will have to find a new superlative because “embarrassing won’t do it”.

The former Roscommon-South Leitrim TD raised the list on Twitter with Jim Edwards, the founding editor of Business Insider UK, and Stefano Pozzebon, the journalist who wrote the article.

Flanagan described the responses he received as “very mature”.

‘Family comes first’: Irish MEPs explain poor voting record in Europe

Ming: No, I won’t send a replacement to Brussels

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43 Comments
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    Mute David Gillen
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:46 PM

    His voting record is just as embarrassing.

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    Mute Sean Macc
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:49 PM

    Would anyone else be able to retain their 95,000 euro salary and expenses if they didn’t show up for work like Ming has?

    Ming has a meagre attendance record of just 16 per cent while other Irish MEPS such as Sean Kelly and Brian Hayes have a 99 and 100 per cent record. Did his constituents elect him to Europe to exert influence where it counts in Strasbourg, or was it just to spout populist nonsense about the bog on Twitter?

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:49 PM

    Mr Flanagan found the time to appear on Vincent Browne last night yet is missing important votes in Strasbourg this week.

    While I disagree with him on many issues, he is failing to represent his constituents in these votes.

    When Peter Robinson took leave to sort his family affairs in 2011, Arlene Foster was temporarily able to take his place. Surely Ming (and also Mr Crowley) could temporarily stand down, allow the number 2 on his list to take the seat and agree with that person that they would resign when he was able to resume his responsibilities.

    He’d have to forego his €7,957 monthly salary for a few months of course though…

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    Mute Steven walsh
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:13 PM

    David don’t believe the hype…. Luke’s wife was sick for the better part of this year after they had a new born

    88
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:13 PM

    There was a good attendance in the Dail and the Dail Bar on the night of the Prom Deal – doesn’t make it right though…

    “There is nothing politically right that is morally wrong.”

    Daniel O’Connell

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    Mute Ivon Itchie Saq
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:29 PM

    Mings attendants in Europe is completely off he has good intentions makes it as far as Amsterdam and then well its hard to contact him

    142
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    Mute Mutley Moan
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    Dec 16th 2014, 5:06 PM

    Ming with the high moral tone….no real experience unless he’s on some local council discussing the magic of Roscommon, seriously if not from there who else goes there unless driving through…, hardly the experience to represent ALL OF US in Europe. The list is spot on if he could remove his head from his a** he’d see it too. Although articulate he consistently try’s to appeal to the lowest common denominator, local politics & people taking the piss by voting for him. His attendance in Europe is hardly a surprise..strikes me he should be in charge of the local student bar with opinions on everything & no solutions & sleeps till 2 in afternoon everyday.

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    Mute Patrick
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    Dec 16th 2014, 9:00 PM

    Young FG out in force . Ming is brilliant if all polititcians were as articulate and as militant ,things would be a lot better. go to any TDs twitter page they spend their life at dinners licking up their electorate and feathering their own bed. Mi9ng is far from perfect but I have respect for the man.

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    Mute thereal.thing
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:45 AM

    baron adams never turned up for work as an MP yet took every penny from the queen. but baron adams is morally bankrupt so we expect that

    3
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    Mute John McCormack
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:40 PM

    Ming do the job you’re being extremely well paid for and stop with the dog ate my homework excuses,its just not acceptable,any other employee would be on a final written warning if not fired at this stage.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:46 PM

    I loved Macushla… play it again John?

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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:57 PM

    Must be great to have a job where you can decide not to turn up when one of your family is sick and still keep your job and pay. Meanwhile I work in the real world where I have to go to work to get paid regardless of whether any of my family are unwell.

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    Mute Real Democrat
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:00 PM

    Ming the list is about the most “embarrassing” members of the European Parliament ? What’s your problem with that? I think you belong on it more than anyone else!

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    Mute Stephen Glynn
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:05 PM

    Does everyone realise that the man was elected to this position?
    His constituents must be happy with him, otherwise they wouldn’t keep electing him………..

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    Mute Sandbag
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:54 PM

    This is the first time he’s been elected to Europe, and from a much larger constituency than his previous ones. Since he’s not had to run for re-election since the last time, there’s no way of knowing if his electorate is happy with him.

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:46 PM

    Ming at least now you’re an European embarrassment and not just an Irish one….

    219
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    Mute Sean B O Conchuir
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:44 PM

    Does the Nazi attend the parliament? If he does, well at least he’s representing his electorate. Ming only talks about it.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:47 PM

    Yeah.. he’s just finished his latest book called ‘My Struggle’.. he has a charming moustache and is partial to drinking in Beer Halls.

    47
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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:56 PM

    Ming is a smart guy, but he’s the eternal Student Union President.
    I’m afraid modern politics still demands an overweight man in a badly fitted suit, with a penchant for Manhattan Transfer and cutting the grass, not smoking it.

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:45 PM

    Did anyone expect anything less from this embarssment of a man? Ming the useless more like it.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:44 PM

    Ming the Mortifying more like.

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    Mute Lastpost
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:24 PM

    Ming he’s only there as a result of a protest vote, should stick to smoking his dope, total embarrassment, state of him

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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:39 PM

    But a vote nonetheless – he campaigned and enough people voted for him.
    Just like Enda Kenny and just like Paul Murphy.

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    Mute Sandbag
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:57 PM

    Indeed; and now he repays those who voted for him by not turning up or voting.

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    Mute James Devine
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    Dec 16th 2014, 4:04 PM

    Yeah

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    Mute Brendan Cafferty
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:36 PM

    Ming is a joke, people just voted for him for the craic. Its all so very sad though really.

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:18 PM

    I wont be as insulting to Ming as some of you on the Journal He had to be voted for so my question who in the name of Heavens would vote for a guy like him what is his brief or what does he do beside giving this award to the Journal?

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    Mute James Devine
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    Dec 16th 2014, 4:05 PM

    Exactly

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    Mute Drew
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:28 PM

    Lesson to the lefties and socialists what happens when you elect clowns to represent you because they should be ‘given a chance’

    Where did I put my I told you so flag…

    68
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    Mute Em Murphy
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:43 PM

    @Paul…now that’s just cynical and unhelpful. Many English ‘journalists’ and I use the term loosely in this instance, seem to go out of their way to be derogative and insulting to Irish politicians. When will they realise that’s our job?

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Dec 16th 2014, 1:46 PM

    Agreed… its ok for us to call them gombeens and gobsh*tes but they can’t. God forgive me i’d defend the Bearded leader for life and Charlie Haughey in face of an English journalist.

    41
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    Mute Jim Fogarty
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    Dec 16th 2014, 6:27 PM

    Flanagan is a national embarrassment. We get the politicians we deserve.

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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Ming`s attendance rate at the EU parliament might not be great, but I have no doubt that he will stand up and speak for the people of the west of Ireland when he does get there, not like all the sliabheens in FG LAB FF and SF, who are only interested in themselves.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Dec 16th 2014, 3:50 PM

    Patrick, do you really consider only making it in to work 1 day in 6 as not great? It really pi@s poor.. As for standing up for the West of Ireland, how can he when he is not there… Even if he never misses another vote, fellow politicians will be wary to work with him as he has such a poor record.

    He can make TV appearance, allegedly he could make the Water Protest, he can even have a go and the English media, so his excuse is looking a little thin to. And while I sympathise with him for having an ill wife, this does not help out the West of Ireland.

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    Mute Ten Major
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    Dec 16th 2014, 4:30 PM

    It is not how often you vote that really matters but how you vote and what you are voting on. A lot of votes in the EU parliament are irrelevant to Irish interests. Give me someone like Flanagan any day than the craven yes men of FG & FF. His attendance is poor & maybe he should have looked for a substitute but the health of a spouse is not always as predictable as one would like.
    At least he shows he has a caring side which is more than some of the commentators here ever do.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 16th 2014, 2:12 PM

    Oh Ming Ming Ming………..

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    Mute Ross O'Mullane
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    Dec 16th 2014, 8:04 PM

    I believe he deserves the benefit of doubt. With his work with Garda whistleblowers Ming has done more than 90% of the other TDs (when he was a TD).

    He was a great opposition voice that highlighted many issues – I wish him all the best in Europe.

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 16th 2014, 9:33 PM

    Sorry Ming, you’re a filthy crusty hippy. You reek of embarrassment….I used to cringe when I would see you and that waster Wallace sitting together.

    Boris Johnson is leagues ahead of you if you can actually believe that.

    22
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    Mute BERTIE
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    Dec 16th 2014, 5:05 PM

    Good man Ming, let the right wing nut jobs have there dying words fade into history, they are finished

    18
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    Mute John Blessing
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    Dec 16th 2014, 10:23 PM

    Another waste of space (Probably stoned somewhere)

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 16th 2014, 5:03 PM

    The E.U. came out of the E.E.C. which was given birth after WW2 by an ex French Nazi? Is it because Ming is Irish and he is English? What is it now with people calling socialists fascists, normally when you call someone a fascist or a Nazi then the argument has run out of facts and good ideas / arguments. It happens as well when the person shouting it is trying to control what others believe as in this case with Ming.

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    Mute Frank Leonard
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    Dec 16th 2014, 9:25 PM

    He is a good follow on after we sent a turkey to the Eurovision. Wait until we see the Luders that will be in the next Dail we are all heading down a cul de sac fast thanks to the carry on of what we have there now 35% turn out will be a great turn out

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    Mute James Devine
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    Dec 16th 2014, 4:01 PM

    He should be fired

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