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SPECULATION HAS BEEN rife this morning that the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage could be about to join the DUP – but the prominent Brexiteer has denied the claims.
Farage is currently on a trip to Northern Ireland where he’ll be the guest speaker at a local DUP event in Co Antrim.
The DUP has said that Farage has said “this trip is not about joining the DUP”.
The speculation began this morning after a close friend of Farage refused to rule out that both men could join the party.
Millionaire Arron Banks said during an interview with Sky News: “All things are possible in politics. We’ve seen [Donald] Trump, we’ve seen all manner of things.
I would discount nothing, I would include nothing.
It gave rise to speculation that the former UKIP leader would join the DUP, who are currently in a government partnership with Theresa May’s Conservatives.
After the Sky interview, Farage tweeted this out just before 11am:
Happy to be on my way to Northern Ireland having worked with the DUP in the referendum.
I was elected as a UKIP MEP. I lead the EFDD group in Europarl and none of that is going to change!
Farage has continued to deny the speculation; when asked whether there was any truth to the claims he’d join the DUP by a journalist in Belfast, he’s reported to have replied: “None”.
iain watson / TwitterNigel Farage will be at a DUP dinner tonight but denies newspaper stories that he is considering standing as an MP for the party - he says he is a UKIP MEP and nothing will change - has worked with pro Brexit supporters from other parties pic.twitter.com/8HO6r0EGh8
— iain watson (@iainjwatson) May 11, 2018
The possibility has also been compared to a similar move by Enoch Powell, a Tory health minister in the UK from 1960-1963, who returned to the House of Commons as an Ulster Unionist Party MP in 1974.
To be a member of the DUP, the candidate would have to reside in Northern Ireland (which Powell did during the ’70s to confirm his membership).
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They deserve each other
@Cormac Harrington: It could be a match made in heaven…. Never on a Sunday though!!!
@Donald Trump: __ Any Nigels that I’ve ever known have been complete tw@s and this one is no exception.
@Ted Murray:
‘We’re only making plans for Nigel
His whole future is as good as sealed’
@Gareth Cooney: We only want what’s best for him.
@Donald Trump: I think Donald great for USA. What is your problem I also Farage is good . I hope he comes again to Dublin. It’s a change in politics you have none elite working for the people. What wrong with the world is you had the same old politicians working for themselves
@Ted Murray: Agree, Nigel Dodds is another dick-head….
@Cormac Harrington: The DUP are singing ” We’re only making plans for Nigel”
Just when you think the DUP couldn’t get any worse…….
@Ooby Dooby: is its any party that can overcome that disbelief it’s the DUP. Hope it happens, draws the island of Ireland closer to unity.
Why are the Saudis funnelling money to the DUP? Why is the DUP not being open and trasparent about this?
@Carina Clarke: Source for Saudi money going into the DUP?
@bopter: Tinfoil hat
@Carina Clarke: The DUP are not open about anything, they are a corrupt party under Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds only interested in feathering their own nest. They couldn’t care less about Northern Ireland or its people. The UK government have been taken in by the DUP and will pay the price at the next election.
Top quality proof reading…1st para
Must have something to do with that auld Dutchman King Billy that they worship.
@Martello Mulligan: It’s funny the Dutch are completely unaware that they have a tribal following on this Island.
@Martello Mulligan: Doubtful, they are only interested in money and screwing everybody.
If the DUP won’t have him I am sure he would suit the Irish Labor Party here as a Member even Leader
@Johnny Mason: huurrrrururururrrrrrr
The article contradicts the headline and says he’s about to join UKIP,
Shoddy lazy journalism.
@Clever Jake: they changed the first paragraph
Birds of a feather.
Gas how British politicians jump around constituencies. Fail in one hey let’s try another at the other side of the country and it’s just accepted.
Try moving across just a county border in Ireland and you’ll be labeled a blow in, outsider and carpetbagger looking for votes when you are not even a local yourself
@Michael McLoughlin: Gerry Adams *cough, cough*
Ah, Jaysus, He`ll be popping up in the Falklands next
The cow from the north and the beast from the east ,something like that lol
@Anthony Gallagher: cow doesn’t rhyme with north.
Ah crap. That would have been entertaining
Well he’s a great friend of the city bankers so wouldn’t have too high standards
In so many ways, I just hope this is true!
@Paddy Downey: the dup is too small and parochial for Nigel farage, I think what’s going on in Europe is much more interesting to him. The next European elections where he will try and get anti Eu candidates elected to shake up the European consensus on everything. That’s where you will see him next
If he can help keeping Britain united through Brexit negotiations, then I’m with him.
I would hate to see Northern Ireland fall back into the hands of the Irish.
@Walt Gumball: when was the north ever in the hands of the Irish? I must have been of school that day.
@Walt Gumball: off school even.
@Walt Gumball: Obvious troll is obvious
@james cullen: prior to the Norman invasion James, I suppose. You should know your history better than me – after all, the conquest of Ireland is a relatively small chapter in our great history.
@No One Important: you should be a little more tolerant of the views of others. I happen to think Brexit is a good thing and that we need better leadership on Brexit. My guess is Nigel feels the same.
@Walt Gumball: “great history”… as in large amounts of invading peaceful nations to pillage and plunder? In your history books, does it mention the black’n’tans? How your Great Britain were struggling for numbers so released prisoners, gave them uniforms and let them loose in Ireland. Does it mention the killing (and worse) of women and children, machine gunning them down in fields? For what crime? To facilitate the great greed of Britain. Your history books glorify these invasions but are thin on what really happened. Long live the Republic!
@Walt Gumball: Trouble is the British electorate won’t agree with you, Nigel has failed at his several attemps to get elected to Westminster. People there know that Farage is a fake, only interested in self publicity and wouldn’t give a damn about his constituents. The Conservatives were taken in by ‘project fear’ and held the referendum not thinking that brexit would win. Now we see the result and where are Ukip these days having fallen by the wayside. Farage is like a jockey without a horse, and who would back him now.
I hear FG have a few spots going.
Is Nigel Farage still alive?????
No surprise there at all.A real troublemaker if ever there was one.Condescending creep.
Mores the pity, that would be a hoot.
Farage could be considered to be on the liberal wing of the DUP.
Guys a clown and should only be part of a circus act
The lowest of human creatures.
Nigel is a Great Guy . He may well be the Leader of a Brexiteer Conservative Party .
They need a proper Brexiteer to give the Eu a damn good thrashing .
The Eu is arrogant and out of touch . Farage soon put them in their place . Great Guy .
@Pl O’neill: I have to day I enjoy listening to him speak in the EP. He is actually a fine orator when he’s on good form and the faces of the Europhiles are hilarious when they are being scolded.
Antic EU
But still takes a fat wages cheque and will take. a fat pension from the EU
What hypocrite
Translation: He’s joining the DUP
I read the headline and laughed out loud.no need to read the article.
Arlene must be desperate for a bit of k$ck
@James Moore: I thought she already had one ?
The Republic don’t want a United Ireland
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