Nigel Farage thinks the Northern Ireland peace process was “utterly loathsome”

A video has emerged of UKIP leader Nigel Farage describing the Northern Ireland peace process as “utterly and entirely loathsome” and has said that he was “sickened by the whole thing”.

Speaking in 2007, the video has been on YouTube since 2012, but has come to light after the Guardian posted it last night. This was during Farage’s first stint as leader of UKIP.

In the video, he is asked about devolution in Northern Ireland, and the then-new power sharing deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP. He replies:

“I find the peace process, so-called, in Northern Ireland loathsome. Utterly and entirely loathsome. 

“I think to have released back into the community 400 convicted murderers, some of whom served sentences as short as 18 months… That’s not what I call a peace process. That’s what I call surrender to the wrong ‘uns. Both on the Protestant and the Catholic side. So I’m sickened by the whole thing.”

The signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 has been viewed by many as one of the greatest steps forward for the UK under the last Labour Government.

By contrast to Farage, when DUP politician Ian Paisley passed away in September, Ed Miliband praised him for the “ultimate act of political courage and reconciliation” for entering the power-share deal with Sinn Fein in Stormont, and praised “his willingness to work positively with Martin McGuinness was a key element in ensuring continued peace and stability in Northern Ireland”.

You can watch the full video below: