Rod Stewart speaks in support of Reform UK and Nigel Farage
The former Faces frontman came out in support of the hard-right party leader in an interview with The Times ahead of his set in the 'legends slot' at Glastonbury on Sunday.
The London-born Stewart, who is known for playing up his Scottish heritage, was asked where he saw the UK's political future heading.
He said: 'It's hard for me because I'm extremely wealthy, and I deserve to be, so a lot of it doesn't really touch me. But that doesn't mean I'm out of touch.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage branded 'clown' as he suggests scrapping Barnett formula
'For instance, I've read about [Prime Minister Keir] Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular.
'We're fed up with the Tories.
'We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well.'
He added: 'What options have we got? I know some of his family, I know his brother, and I quite like him.'
Asked what Farage stood for other than 'Brexit, tightened immigration policies and unrealistic economic promises', the singer said: 'Yeah, yeah. But Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that.
'Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.'
The remarks signal a stark departure from Stewart's previous attacks on Farage.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pictured during a visit to ScotlandIn 2024, after the Reform UK leader suggested that the West and Nato were to blame for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Stewart said: 'I'm outraged and dumbfounded that Farage blames the West for the war – is he suggesting that Nato is the aggressor here?
'Nato's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means, not to start a war on paranoid [Vladimir] Putin's Russia.
'Shame on you Nigel."
In a previous interview ahead of his Glastonbury set, Stewart revealed that his former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood will join him on stage and said he will have three different guests coming on, plus an orchestra.
'I'm really looking forward to it,' he added.
'And it is a different gig. It's like when you're playing a cup final: you're trying to treat it like another game. But, of course, it's not. It's special.
'It'll be glamorous, it'll be sexy.
'And we've got a little orchestra coming on to play with us. And we may have some bagpipes.'
Stewart's best known solo songs include Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May.
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The Herald Scotland
37 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Starmer to warn of ‘backroom stitch-up' in Welsh elections
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
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"We will serve our warriors as well as they serve us" Keir Starmer writes
As you read this, our armed forces are out there, protecting our seas and our skies, guarding NATO's eastern flank with Russia, working 24/7 to keep us safe. All the freedom and comforts we enjoy at home are secured by them. For that, we owe them not just our thanks and respect, but also our support. So that's what this government is doing. With our historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on national security by 2035, we are backing our brave men and women in uniform like never before. We're putting the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law for the first time – putting support for our warriors and veterans on a legal footing, as we promised in our Manifesto. And we've already acted. We've given the Armed Forces the biggest pay rise in 20 years. We're improving housing for soldiers and their families. And we're giving better support for our veterans in need – because those who have given the most, such as the injured or bereaved, should always be the priority. Our service men and women are the best there is – and they deserve the best from us. That's what we're striving to give them – during and after their service. Not just homes for heroes – but better weapons for our warriors, salaries for our soldiers, and careers for our Commandos. That is our commitment – that the nation will serve our warriors as well as they serve the nation. On Armed Forces Day, the whole country should get behind that effort – and take a moment to say a heartfelt: thank you. Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn. Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
Sunday Post
an hour ago
- Sunday Post
Failure over domestic abuse law is leaving women at risk
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Key new powers to protect domestic abuse victims are still gathering dust four years after MSPs voted for them – and all ministers have done in the past 12 months is hold a workshop. Holyrood unanimously backed the new law in 2021 to help police, courts and landlords deal with emergencies where women are in acute danger. But John Swinney is now the third first minister who has failed to activate the powers. The same Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders and Notices (DAPOs and DAPNs) promised for Scotland are now up and running in a series of pilot schemes in England and Wales. In Greater Manchester alone, DAPOs were used more than 200 times in the first few months with at least six brutes ending up behind bars for breaching them. 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'While England and Wales are jailing abusers under DAPOs, SNP ministers have shelved the same powers in Scotland and are now blaming their own legislation. 'This is a shameful failure – and it lies squarely at the feet of the SNP and John Swinney. 'We need action, not warm words. Vulnerable women and children are being let down because of their incompetence and inaction.' The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act was passed by MSPs of all parties in March 2021 – by 118 votes to 0. Then Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf hailed it as 'transformational legislation', predicting it would help between 600 and 3,000 families a year. He told Holyrood: 'We collectively have a duty to ensure that our law and law-enforcement agencies have the tools to (protect) victims… 'We should never again have that stain on our collective conscience that victims of domestic abuse – predominantly women – must flee their homes in order to protect themselves.' The Act targets perpetrators in two ways. 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Last summer, The Sunday Post highlighted fears that victims are being left at risk because of the delay, with then Housing Minister Paul McLennan admitting in an excruciating podcast interview that he was totally confused. He said: 'I think obviously there was legislation, you know, there shouldn't have been, and to be honest, I don't know how that would actually work.' Since then, three Holyrood committees have put pressure on the government to come up with a solid date for implementation. But this week, Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown wrote to the equalities committee: 'The consensus from those who participated in the workshop was that fundamental changes were needed to the legislation. 'A short-life working group will be established to consider recommendations for possible legislative change to ensure that domestic abuse protection orders can be implemented operationally and sustainably. 'Once determined and agreed, we will look to consult more widely in 2026 and thereafter consider the need for legislation.' The Scottish Government said it is handing £21.6 million this year to more than 100 organisations working to prevent violence against women and girls and support survivors. It said: 'We are committed to fully implementing the Act 2021. This is a complex piece of legislation, and through extensive and close working with stakeholders several unexpected operational challenges have been raised. 'A short-life working group is being established to consider possible legislative changes to ensure the Act can be implemented as intended and so it works for people. We will then consult on any proposed changes.' A catalogue of ministers have played their part in the failure to implement the Act. Nicola Sturgeon used the 2019 SNP party conference to announce the coming of DAPOs – and repeated the pledge in her Programme for Government speech of 2020. Her successor, Humza Yousaf, was justice secretary when the law was passed. Both are set to leave Holyrood at the election next year with golden goodbye resettlement grants in excess of £100,000 without having seen through their promises to domestic abuse victims. Among other justice secretaries, Michael Matheson – another about to stand down as an MSP – first touted the orders in 2017 while Keith Brown claimed Part 2 would go live in 2022. Current incumbent Angela Constance insisted those landlord powers would be up and running by spring 2024. So too did Deputy First Minister Shona Robison, when she was social justice secretary, and ex-housing minister McLennan. Minister for parliamentary business Jamie Hepburn and equalities minister Kaukab Stewart have been liaising with committees about the delays. It was Brown, the victims and community safety minister , who wrote to MSPs on Holyrood's equalities committee last week to reveal that DAPOs have been put on the back-burner. She said: 'We will look to consult more widely in 2026 and thereafter consider the need for legislation.' Timeline How progress stalled after government promises nearly eight years ago. Nov 2017 Justice secretary Michael Matheson reveals plan for new orders. Oct 2019 Sturgeon to SNP conference: 'Within this parliamentary term, we will introduce a new law to establish emergency protective orders.' Sept 2020 Programme for Government: 'The experience of lockdown reiterated the importance of protecting women and girls…facing domestic abuse.' Oct 2020 The Bill is introduced along with consultation. Jan 2021 Justice committee backs the Bill but says more work needed to make it practical. Mar 2021 The Bill becomes law after MSPs vote. Apr 2021 Westminster passes its own Domestic Abuse Act for DAPOs/DAPNs in England and Wales. Winter 2022 Deadline missed to implement Part 2, which gives powers to landlords to eject abusers. Sept 2023 Justice Secretary Angela Constance: 'Detail being worked through.' Working group set up to discuss Part 1. Spring 2024 Another deadline to implement Part 2 of the Bill is missed. Jun 2024 Housing minister Paul McLennan: 'I don't know how that would actually work.' Nov 2024 Pilot schemes activated across England and Wales. Police begin using the orders. Mar 2025 Workshop held to discuss Part 1. Jun 2025 Part 1 shelved indefinitely with new working group and consultation to be set up in 2026. Dec 2025 New deadline for Part 2, but warning that it may be delayed yet again. OPINION: Survivors affected by lack of urgency By Sophie Berry, Solicitor at the Govan Law Centre, Glasgow It really is incredible that here we are, yet another year down the line, and still there's no sign of the key parts of this legislation being implemented, just endless delays and excuses. Deadlines missed and promises broken, but plenty of time for a workshop, consultations and working groups. It's unbelievably frustrating for all of Scotland's domestic abuse organisations that have contributed significant time and resources to bringing this legislation into existence. Far more importantly, though, these are potentially life-and-death measures for survivors who continue to be affected by the lack of urgency with still no end in sight. Almost 64,000 domestic abuse cases were reported to Police Scotland in 2023/24, with 81% involving a male perpetrator and a female victim. Every day at Govan Law Centre's Women's Rights Project, we see women and children suffering the consequences of the failure to put these protections in place. Yet, at the same time, we hear that significant progress is being made in England and Wales, with pilot schemes which appear to be making a real difference to the lives of survivors. It makes no sense. Women are most at risk just when they are trying to leave an abusive partner. Giving the police the power to intervene on behalf of a person at imminent risk could make a vital difference at the most critical time. And that's as true today as it was in 2021, so any further delay would be unforgivable.
