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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rory Carroll and Lisa O’Carroll in Belfast

Celtic nations begin to plan for breakup of UK in event of Reform election win

Nigel Farage United Kingdom Ireland Northern Ireland Mark Drakeford Reform Conor Murphy Wales Claire Hanna Donald Trump
Nigel Farage speaking at a podium between two stage lights
The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, wants to leave the European convention on human rights and renegotiate the Good Friday agreement. Photograph: Martin Pope/Getty Images

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.

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