On Monday, Farage instead endorsed the incumbent Democratic Unionist MPs Ian Paisley (North Antrim) and Sammy Wilson (East Antrim), both of whom have been arch-Brexiteers and critical of the DUP-backed deal, too.
“As far as the Northern Ireland thing is concerned, I want to make it clear that whilst there have been negotiations going on in previous times, I will personally be endorsing Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson,” Farage told PA’s Claudia Savage, who reminded him of the Reform-TUV alliance.
“Well, new leadership brings change. I wish the TUV well, but I’m gonna stand up to support Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley as people I fought with all through the Brexit years,” Farage said.
A cock-a-hoop DUP welcomed Farage’s surprise U-turn – and called on Allister to remove Reform’s logos from all TUV advertisements.
“Nigel Farage is a household name and we welcome his endorsement as the best pro-union candidate in our constituencies,” Paisley crowed.
Allister, who is running against Paisley in North Antrim and features Reform logos on his campaign literature and posters – including one tweeted a few hours before Farage’s ambush – was unusually slow to comment.
