Prospect of Corbyn-led coalition prompts Farage to warn of political comeback
3 min read
Nigel Farage has said he would have “no choice” but to re-enter the political frontline if Jeremy Corbyn leads a coalition government after the election.
The former Ukip leader said Brexit could be in “some trouble” and Britons could be facing a second EU referendum if the Labour leader enters Number 10 with the help of the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.
The MEP argued that there could be "unfinished business" over the UK's exit from Europe and claimed the Brexit timeline will be pushed back after yet another shock evening in British politics.
And he said that Theresa May has been “fatally damaged” by her election campaign and will face calls to quit from within her own party.
“What a huge error to pick a Remainer to lead a Brexit party in a Brexit election. Massive mistake, I think that if we do get a Corbyn coalition the Brexit is in some trouble,” he told BBC News.
When asked whether this meant he would return to the political fray, he replied: “I would have absolutely no choice but to do exactly that.”
He continued: “It’s not what I plan, it’s not what I want. I was thrilled to lead Ukip, to pressure Cameron into offering the referendum, into working in that referendum campaign and to winning. We’ve triggered Article 50 - I thought it was all done. Mrs May went for the big majority, she was found out I think in this campaign.
“And what’s remarkable about Corbyn’s achievement is he’s getting Remainers in London voting for him, but he’s getting Ukip voters around the rest of the country voting for him too.
“Now of course he’s not going to be able to form a government on his own if it works out that way, but if we get a coalition with him and the SNP and whoever else, then we may well be looking down the barrel of a second referendum.”
The prospect of a Labour-led coalition emerged as the Conservatives are projected to win 314 seats at the election, 12 short of a majority, while Mr Corbyn’s party are forecasted to win 266.
Mr Farage argued that regardless of the result it is likely that the Brexit talks, which were due to begin in earnest on 19 June, will be pushed back.
“There’s a long way to go, but I do think this, I think let’s say the other result happens, let’s say May scrapes through with a small majority or forms a minority government, I don’t know, I’m not sure that her credibility is going to be very strong in Brussels. So I think yes, the timetable, whatever happens here is likely to get pushed back,” he said.
PAUL NUTTALL
Mr Farage refused to criticise Paul Nuttall, the Ukip leader, after the party haemorrhaged votes across the country this evening.
"I’ve got no criticisms of Paul although the party himself and the people around him, organisationally – pretty weak," he said.
“He had time to establish himself with the voters who still don’t quite know who he is. So no I’ve got no criticisms of Paul although the party himself, the people around him, I think organisationally – pretty weak.
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