Nigel Farage has hit out at the EU for unelected political "dominance", claiming the EU architect Jacques Delors "convinced" him to campaign for Brexit.
While he former Ukip leader praised the politician as an "immense, towering figure", he questioned why the former European Commissioner "didn't have to submit himself to the electorate".
Delors, who died earlier this week, served as head of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995.
He was known as the "architect" of the EU, having helped design the single market allowing the free movement of people, goods and services between member states.
Farage questioned why major EU politicians 'didn’t have to submit [themselves] to the electorate'
PA
The French politician also pushed for the creation of the Euro.
Writing an opinion piece in the Telegraph, Farage said: "Why would an international trading nation want to tie itself politically and economically ever closer with a handful of neighbouring countries?
"The one certainty about the period between 1985 and 1995 was the absolute dominance of European, and to some extent, British politics. That was Jaques Delors."
He added: "He was a towering political figure, though in keeping with the greatest traditions of European institutions, didn’t have to submit himself to the electorate.
"As European Commission president, I absolutely loathed his every pronouncement. And unlike the Eurosceptics in parliament, I became a convinced Leaver.
"Delors agenda was open and clear and, to be frank, honest. It was about ever closer political union and the implementation of a single currency. These were things I wanted nothing to do with.
"By the late 1980s, I was a convinced Leaver and I was certainly not afraid to say so."
He added: "There is no doubt that this was the man that drove the European project forward.
"He was an immense, towering figure – though just not one politically to my taste."
Delors' daughter Martine Aubry said he died in his sleep on Wednesday morning in his home in Paris.
Michel Barnier paid tribute to Delors, describing him as a "source of inspiration" in both French and EU politics.
He said the politician was a "humanist at the service of cooperation and solidarity between Europeans."
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Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was an “inexhaustible architect of our Europe” and a fighter for human justice.
He said: "His commitment, his ideals and his righteousness will always inspire us.
"I salute his work and his memory and share the pain of his loved ones."
