Mendoza denies inconsistency in Farage’s position on US-Israel war with Iran

Nigel Farage’s chief global adviser has denied claims that the Reform UK leader has made a U-turn following his statement that Britain should not get further involved in the Israel–United States war with Iran.

Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, became Reform’s chief advisor on global affairs after leaving the Conservative Party last November.

He responded to Labour’s accusation that Farage has backtracked on his previous assertion that the ‘gloves need to come off’ when dealing with Iran.

Mendoza, a respected communal figure and Westminster councillor, responded to a question about Farage’s apparent change in stance on the war on X, posting”There is no inconsistency between what Nigel Farage said at the start of the war and now.

“‘Supporting our allies’ (which the government refused to do at the start) and ‘not getting further involved’ are consistent positions, given that the UK’s stance has changed between those statements. The UK is now belatedly supporting our allies, but we shouldn’t be drawn in further.”

However, Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, argued: “Reform wanted the UK to go to war in Iran and are now trying to cover up the consequences for British families, including higher fuel prices.”

Speaking at a petrol station in the Derbyshire Peak District, Farage said Britain should not get involved in “another foreign war”, and warned that the rest of the world was losing respect for Britain because of its response to the conflict in the Middle East.

Answering a series of media questions, Farage also said it was politically vital for Donald Trump that the conflict ends “pretty quickly”, and warned that the United States would have failed if it does not eliminate any nuclear threat from Iran.

On Tuesday, Farage also said: “There are differing opinions on whether we should physically join the attacks. As leader, I am saying, if we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.”

At the start of the war, Farage had said, “We should do all we can to support the operation,” and called for “regime change” in Iran.

A YouGov poll showed that Reform’s 2024 voters are split – nearly a quarter (24%) want the UK to actively join the attack on Iran, while 63% support either a retaliatory or defensive position.

The conflict has also exposed divisions among senior Reform figures over foreign policy.

Both Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, have taken staunchly pro-Israel positions.

However, in line with developments on the political right in the United States, some Reform supporters favor a “no foreign wars – Britain first” position.

In the US, Donald Trump has faced growing criticism from some in his MAGA movement for engaging in Middle East conflicts and for his staunch pro-Israel stance.

On Monday, Reform’s treasury spokesperson also appeared to be moving toward a more cautious stance on UK engagement in foreign wars. He said: “We are a party for working people, not drawn-out wars in faraway places.”

Reform’s Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns previously declined to rule out putting troops on the ground in the Middle East.

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: “Going to war is the most serious decision a prime minister can make.

“Nigel Farage spent the past week calling for escalation that would make cost-of-living pressures even worse.

“If he had been prime minister he would have already dragged our country into this war, and wouldn’t be able to U-turn like he has done today.

“While Keir Starmer offers serious, level-headed leadership in the national interest, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have shown themselves to be unfit for office.”

A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage and Reform spent the past week saying they would bomb Iran.

“Now they’re backtracking as petrol prices rise, leaving their foreign policy in chaos.

“That’s not serious leadership, that’s panic.”

Mendoza had last month introduced Farage at the launch of the party’s Reform Jewish Alliance group, which has aimed to attract communal supporters to the party.

The Reform Friends of Israel group has led two visits to the Jewish state for senior figures in the party, and has aimed to position itself as being supportive of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.