Taoiseach: Ireland is planning for possibility Nigel Farage will become British prime minister

Micheál Martin said: 'If Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, Ireland will engage, but obviously his policies are completely at variance with ours in terms of the European Union'

Nigel Farage at the state opening of parliament last week. His Reform UK party surged in last week's local elections while Keir Starmer's British Labour party suffered heavy losses. Picture: Toby Melville/PA 

The Government is planning for the possibility of Nigel Farage becoming British prime minister and will engage with him if this happens, the Taoiseach has said.

It comes as current prime minister Keir Starmer has found himself in a leadership crisis following terrible local elections for his British Labour party which sparked the resignation of a number of ministers, at a time when Mr Farage's Reform UK party has surged.

Asked about what might happen if Mr Farage were to become leader in the UK, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "Every scenario has to be planned for and has to be taken on board, and again, that would be a matter of the first instance for the United Kingdom, for the people of the United Kingdom.

"If Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, Ireland will engage, but obviously his policies are completely at variance with ours in terms of the European Union," Mr Martin told RTÉ's This Week programme.

Mr Martin added that embattled Mr Starmer has been a "good leader" for the United Kingdom "in terms of restoring the relationship with the European Union, because Brexit damaged Britain, many people in Britain may not want to accept that, but it did".

Ireland 'must seek new trading partners' 

Separately, Mr Martin stressed Ireland's need to look to new countries to trade with in order to keep jobs, given the current global instability.

Addressing his party’s ard fheis, Micheál Martin said “short-term gestures” will not protect the economy and instead action “as serious as the problems we face” is required.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressing the Fianna Fáil ard fheis. Picture: Conor McCabe

Mr Martin acknowledged that many people are worried about the future, and stressed that a “new national effort” is needed to secure our ability to trade with the world.

“It’s not just about new industries — trade is essential for farming, rural communities, and the agrifood sector. We export over €21bn of food products to 180 countries across the world.

“We have to open new markets — reducing our reliance on traditional ones. We have to build up our presence and our political engagement with more countries.”

Mr Martin has warned that budgetary projections will have to be "recalibrated" because of the impact of the war in Iran and soaring oil prices, but told reporters that the coalition will deliver a family-focused budget with measures to support households with rising costs.

"We always have to have economic growth, so that we can have social progress, but there will be a very strong emphasis on families to try and protect families because the costs are significant for families."

But Mr Martin refused to give specific details on whether the Coalition plans to reduce the amount parents pay for childcare as part of Budget 2027.

Pledge to cap childcare costs

The programme for government promises to reduce childcare costs to €200 a month per child in the lifetime of the Government.

Asked if the Coalition would move on this in the autumn, Mr Martin said: "It's a five-year programme for government, and last year's budget was the first of five budgets, and I think that's the context. We can't do everything in one budget."

He did, however, say third level fees are likely to be reduced as part of budget measures.

Mr Martin strongly defended a ban on smartphones during school time.

“No App, and no AI model will ever replace the need to develop your own ability to reason and interact with others. That is why our decision to ban smartphones during school time is right and it is why we will continue to help schools to cope with disruptive developments."

• Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor