Nigel Farage shares many similarities with the late Ian Paisley… but they're miles apart on Irish unity
Reform UK leader previously predicted a united Ireland would happen one day
Nigel Farage is well known for his love of a tipple, but there'll be no shortage of republicans raising a glass if he becomes prime minister.
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar is right. The Reform UK leader moving into Number 10 would significantly increase support for Irish unity among those in the middle ground. A Reform government would be like the Tory 'bad boys of Brexit' on speed.
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Leader Live
40 minutes ago
- Leader Live
‘Urgent' need for de-escalation after US strikes on Iran
Simon Harris said a 'dangerous' escalation between Iran and Israel is more real and more likely than ever before. Mr Harris, who is also Ireland's deputy premier, said staff from the Irish embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday, and that he is being updated on Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. 'I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following military action by the United States on three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight,' Mr Harris said. 'The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before. 'There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began. It will remain Ireland's priority in the hours and days ahead.' Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security.' He said the International Atomic Energy Agency's statement on Sunday is 'a stark reminder of these dangers'. He added: 'While there is no initial reporting of any increase in off-site radiation levels as a result of overnight developments, it is a warning as to how easily that could change should further escalation occur, and the disaster that could pose. 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Iran nuclear sites strikes may raise UK terror risk
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted its nuclear programme will not be stopped. Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog said there are no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. Speaking to Sky News this morning Mr Reynolds the UK was not involved in the strikes against Iran but was informed in advance by the US. He said "no request was made" was made to the UK by the US for support. READ MORE: He told Sky News: "We were not and have not been involved in these attacks." But asked about the potential risk to the UK, he added: 'This is not hypothetical. There is not a week goes by without some sort of Iranian cyber attack on a key part of UK critical national infrastructure. 'There is Iranian activity on the streets of the UK, which is wholly unacceptable.' He added: 'It's already at a significant level. I think it would be naive to say that that wouldn't potentially increase. 'But again, there's a choice here for Iran: Do they want to continue being an agent of instability in the region and the wider world? Where has that got them? Where has it got the Iranian people? 'There's a better course of action for Iran to take here, and I think they should consider that.' His intervenition comes as politicians reacted to the US strikes. John Swinney has said the UK must push for a diplomatic solution following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear programme. Posting on X, John Swinney said: "The Middle East conflict has reached an alarmingly greater level of danger after the US attacks on Iran. The conflict must be stopped by a diplomatic solution delivered through the international community. And the UK Government must insist on that now." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said today: "Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. "The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. "We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis." Ireland's deputy premier said a dangerous escalation between Iran and Israel is now "more real and more likely than ever before". Simon Harris, who is also the Irish foreign affairs minister, called for a de-escalation and negotiated solution on Iran's nuclear capabilities. He said that staff from the Irish embassy in Tehran left Iran on Friday, and that he was being updated on Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. "I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following military action by the United States on three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight," Mr Harris said. "The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before. "There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began. It will remain Ireland's priority in the hours and days ahead." He added: "Europe, including Ireland, is fully united in the clear view that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. "The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security. "The comment from the International Atomic Energy Agency this morning is a stark reminder of these dangers. "While there is no initial reporting of any increase in off-site radiation levels as a result of overnight developments, it is a warning as to how easily that could change should further escalation occur, and the disaster that could pose." Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were "absolutely essential". Dame Priti told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "America's actions were absolutely essential. "We have got to the stage, as we've seen in the last nine days or so, where Iran coming to the negotiation table simply was not happening in any constructive way. "We had the IAEA report disclosing the extent to which Iran's capabilities on nuclear were just increasing and they went beyond civilian capabilities. "So these strikes were essential, I think the strikes from both Israel and from the United States - it's quite clear that the American military was the only military capable of literally dropping those bombs on Fordo." The Witham MP added: "Iran is a terrorist state. They sponsor proxies. "They harm us, for a start, they harm the UK and our interests, as well as chants of 'death to America' and their objective, which has always been to eliminate the state of Israel, which is simply not acceptable." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "By targeting Iran's nuclear sites, the US has taken decisive action against a regime that fuels global terror and directly threatens the UK. "Iranian operatives have plotted murders and attacks on British soil. "We should stand firmly with the US and Israel." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage backed Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran. He said: 'Reform UK stands behind the military actions of the USA overnight. 'Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, the future of Israel depends on it.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Urgent' need for de-escalation after US strikes on Iran
Simon Harris said a 'dangerous' escalation between Iran and Israel is more real and more likely than ever before. Mr Harris, who is also Ireland's deputy premier, said staff from the Irish embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday, and that he is being updated on Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. 'I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following military action by the United States on three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight,' Mr Harris said. 'The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before. 'There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began. It will remain Ireland's priority in the hours and days ahead.' Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security.' He said the International Atomic Energy Agency's statement on Sunday is 'a stark reminder of these dangers'. He added: 'While there is no initial reporting of any increase in off-site radiation levels as a result of overnight developments, it is a warning as to how easily that could change should further escalation occur, and the disaster that could pose. 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.'
