Flip-flopping Nigel Farage shifts Iran conflict stance as fears mount over invoice hikes
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hit out at Keir Starmer for failing to join the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes – but today he said ‘Let’s not get involved in another foreign war’
Nigel Farage has been accused of U-turning over Iran(Image: PA)
Flip-flopping Nigel Farage has shifted his stance on the Iran war as fears mount over the hit to energy bills.
The Reform UK leader initially hit out at the Government for failing to join the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes. But today, he performed a screeching U-turn, telling journalists: “Let’s not get involved in another foreign war.”
It comes after wider confusion about Reform’s stance on military action in Tehran. Deputy leader Richard Tice and Reform member Nadhim Zahawi previously backing British involvement – while Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick has opposed it.
A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage and Reform spent the past week saying they would bomb Iran. Now they’re backtracking as petrol prices rise, leaving their foreign policy in chaos. That’s not serious leadership, that’s panic.”
READ MORE: Nigel Farage’s Trump trip boast backfires as he gives defensive answerREAD MORE: Motorists told ‘no need to panic’ over Middle East war fall-out
Grilled on his position while visiting a petrol station in Derbyshire, Mr Farage said: “Given that we can’t even send a Royal Navy vessel to defend British sovereign territory and an RAF base, we certainly don’t have the capability to offer anything of any value to the Americans or the Israelis.
“There are differing opinions as to whether we should physically join the attacks. I, as leader, am saying to you, if we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.”
The British Government’s initial decision not to allow the US to use British bases to attack Iran was a massive mistake, Mr Farage claimed, adding: “I absolutely wanted us to be supportive. We all want the war over quickly, including President Trump. Politically, it’s vital for him that it’s over pretty quickly.
“But having started it – Israel and America having started it – they must remove the nuclear threat. If they don’t do that, they will have failed.”
Mr Farage added of President Trump: “Look, he’s a friend of mine. I agree with many things that he does. I don’t agree with other things that he does. His style is not to the liking of many British people, but we should recognise we’re lucky to have an American president that actually likes us.
“And I think Ed Davey’s idea that the King should cancel the visit to America is a really immature and stupid idea. We’ve had our ups and downs with America over the years. We’ll have them in the years to come. My worry right now is that America, as a whole, is losing respect for us.”
Asked if how he would respond to a potential US request for help from UK troops, Mr Farage said: “We don’t have the soldiers anyway. Even if we did, I would say it’s no to boots on the ground.”
Reform’s Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns previously declined to rule out putting troops on the ground in the Middle East.
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: “Going to war is the most serious decision a prime minister can make. Nigel Farage spent the past week calling for escalation that would make cost-of-living pressures even worse.
“If he had been prime minister he would have already dragged our country into this war, and wouldn’t be able to U-turn like he has done today. While Keir Starmer offers serious, level-headed leadership in the national interest, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have shown themselves to be unfit for office.”
