EU is drawing up secret ‘Farage as PM’ plans | UK | News
Ireland’s Taoiseach appears to accept that the European Union is preparing for the possibility of Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister; Brussels is simultaneously pressuring Sir Keir Starmer to soften Brexit red lines ahead of a crucial summit later this month.
Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE, Micheál Martin said: “Every scenario should be planned for and taken into account and this will be a matter for the UK and the people of the UK to be resolved in the first instance.”
He added: “If Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, Ireland will step in, but his policies are completely at odds with ours in terms of the European Union.”
What did the Taoiseach of Ireland say about Nigel Farage?
The remarks come at a time when Mr Farage’s political fortunes are at their strongest for years, polling ahead of his rivals for more than 12 months as he rides a wave of local election successes that accumulated on May 7.
The Taoiseach defended the beleaguered Prime Minister in the same interview, describing Sir Keir as a “good leader” and praising him for “restoring relations with the European Union”. In a slightly veiled swipe at Mr Farage, Mr Martin added: “Brexit hurt Britain; many people in Britain may not want to admit it, but it did.”
It was previously reported that Brussels was considering introducing the so-called “Farage clause”, a mechanism designed to prevent the UK Reform leader from tearing up any agreement binding Britain to EU directives if he reaches Downing Street.
Is the EU putting pressure on Labor over Brexit?
The EU is also pressuring Labor to abandon its “red lines”, particularly commitments to stay outside the single market and customs union, ahead of the upcoming Brexit reset summit, GB News reports.
Centrist French MP Sandro Gozi said: “The world has changed since the red lines were drawn.” A senior EU official told Politico: “How revolutionary can it be without reconsidering its red lines? The Labor Government are not doing that and if they exaggerate their message of revolutionary change with the EU then everyone will be disappointed and say ‘Brussels is punishing us’.”
There is also speculation that the EU is deliberately stepping back to see whether the turmoil that has engulfed the party will lead to a new Labor leader more willing to approach Brussels. The Prime Minister is under increasing pressure as more than 90 Labor MPs publicly call for his resignation. Mr Streeting put himself forward as a candidate in the contest which now seemed inevitable.
What does Wes Streeting say about the EU?
Mr Streeting, who campaigned for a second Brexit referendum following the vote in 2016, used his leadership statement to lay out an explicitly pro-EU vision. He called for a “new special relationship with the EU”, adding: “The greatest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future is in Europe and one day, one day, it will return to the European Union.”
What does Andy Burnham say about rejoining the EU?
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who aims to return to the House of Commons via the Makerfield by-election on June 18, also struck a pro-European tone. He told delegates at last year’s Labor Party conference: “I believe in unions of all kinds. The UK Union. The European Union and the benefits it brings to this country.”
But Mr Burnham appeared to soften that position when he came under pressure on the campaign trail in Makerfield, a constituency that voted decisively for Brexit in 2016. “I’ve said there’s a case for it in the long term, but I’m not advocating it in this by-election,” he said.
