
Farage hits back at former Irish leader's claim he would destroy the UK
The former Irish taoiseach predicted that the push for a united Ireland would take 'centre stage' if the Reform UK leader was to win a future general election.
Mr Varadkar told BBC Northern Ireland that a Farage government would 'double down on Brexit', which would bolster Irish unity and Scottish independence.
He said it was possible that England's 'volatile politics' could mean Mr Farage would become prime minister after elections in either four or nine years.
Mr Farage hit back at the claims by Mr Varadkar, who was Ireland's prime minister during the Brexit negotiations, during which time he became a bogeyman for Brexiteers and unionists.
'I have heard all of this before,' said Mr Farage. 'They said that a vote for Brexit would end the Union. It didn't and nor will the Reform government.'
Labour views Reform as its main rival in a future UK parliamentary election, which must take place by 2029, after the latter took hundreds of seats in local elections this year.
Last week, a poll said that Mr Farage could win an outright majority and become prime minister if an election was held tomorrow.
Mr Varadkar praised Sir Keir Starmer for his reset in relations with Dublin and Brussels since becoming Prime Minister.
The former Fine Gael leader played a key role in agreeing the withdrawal agreement, which created the Irish Sea border between Britain and Northern Ireland
'Prime Minister Starmer might be re-elected for a second term. It's equally possible, not probable but possible, that Nigel Farage could be prime minister of the UK in four years' time, or in nine years' time,' he said.
He added that Mr Farage and his supporters believed that Brexit 'had not been done properly' and would roll back the reset.
'What you'd see is an attempt to rescind many of the things that Prime Minister Starmer and his Government have done [and this would] bring the United Kingdom even further away from the European Union,' Mr Varadkar said.
He added he hoped Mr Farage would not become prime minister but said it 'would change the picture in terms of attitudes towards independence in Scotland'.
'I think it would change the views of some people in the middle ground in Northern Ireland [towards Irish unity],' he added.
'It isn't just because a Right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well,' said Mr Varadkar.
He added that Reform-run councils in England were 'preventing people from flying Pride or progress flags'.
'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that,' he told the BBC.
The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement states that the secretary of state for Northern Ireland must call a referendum if it 'appears likely' a majority wants a united Ireland.
A border poll must also be held in the Republic. While polls show large support for reunification, they also consistently show a majority in favour of remaining part of the UK in Northern Ireland.
Mr Varadkar has become an outspoken advocate for Irish unity since he resigned as taoiseach last year because of his low popularity ratings.
His successor Simon Harris and coalition partner Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, went on to overturn a commanding Sinn Fein lead in the polls to stay in power after elections last year.
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