<
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/04/uk-ireland-leaders-fear-union-future-nigel-farage-led-government>
"The rise of Nigel Farage has prompted political leaders across Ireland,
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to game the unthinkable: the breakup of
the United Kingdom.
Unionists who wish to save the union and nationalists who wish to end it are
bracing for constitutional turmoil if Reform UK emerges triumphant – with
Farage as prime minister or official leader of the opposition – after the next
election.
Representatives from each side believe a Farage-led government could trigger a
hasty referendum on Irish unification and usher in Trump-style anti-immigration
crackdowns that alienate the Celtic nations. The possibility of a strong Reform
opposition or coalition spooks the nations just as much.
It is conceivable that “in just a handful of years’ time, people on the island
of Ireland will be looking across the Irish Sea to a country where ICE-like
snatch squads are arresting people off the streets” said Mark Drakeford, the
former first minister of Wales, referring to the US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency.
Drakeford, who has repeatedly said he would fight to retain the union, worries
that politics in Britain has irrevocably changed and fears there “there may not
be time” for a considered debate about the UK’s future if Farage reaches
Downing Street or Reform significantly boosts its number of parliamentary seats
from the eight it now holds.
“The United Kingdom is a voluntary association of four nations, and in any
voluntary association there must be choices that people can make to stay in and
choices that people can make to leave.”
The former Welsh Labour leader made the warnings last week at a conference in
Belfast organised by the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP), during
which figures from across the UK and Ireland voiced concern about the risk of
being “bounced” into a vote on Irish unification.
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said Dublin should begin preparing
for unification rather than wait for English nationalism to set the timetable.
“The future may not go down the predictable pathway of discussions and
harmony,” he said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
