Sir Rod Stewart has sensationally endorsed Nigel Farage after blasting Sir Keir Starmer for “cutting off the fishing in Scotland”. The forever young 80-year-old, who is performing at Glastonbury this weekend, told The Times in an interview: “We’re fed up with the Tories. We’ve got to give Farage a chance. He’s coming across well.”
The rocker has not told us lately of his political views, but said that despite being “extremely wealthy” he was not out of touch with the public on the big issues of the day. He said he had read about Sir Keir’s 12-year fishing agreement with the European Union, which allows trawlermen from across the continent continued access to UK waters. “That hasn’t made him popular,” said the singer.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s attempt to reset Britain’s relations with the EU, Stewart said: “Starmer’s all about getting us out of Brexit and I don’t know how he’s going to do that.”
He suggested there was a reason to believe in Reform UK leader Mr Farage, saying: “What options have we got? I know some of his family, I know his brother, and I quite like him.”
Stewart, who notably once filled in potholes near his Essex home, also once again vented his frustration at the state of Britain’s roads.
“As I travel in Italy, Germany, nowhere else is as bad,” he said. “Starmer has promised to spend millions on it … We shall see.”
His remarks come just days before Stewart’s highly anticipated Glastonbury performance on Sunday.
The rock star last headlined the festival on the Pyramid Stage in 2002, but this year he will take up the teatime legend slot previously occupied by stars like Diana Ross and Shania Twain.
The musician also revealed he was able to convince festival organisers to extend his 75-minute slot to 90 minutes after “begging” for a longer set.
“Usually I do well over two hours, so there’s still a load of songs we won’t be able to do,” he said. “But we’ve been working at it. I’m not gonna make any announcements between songs.”