Rod Stewart on stage at Glastonbury on Sunday

Sir Rod Stewart found himself at the centre of backlash in the lead-up to his Glastonbury set this weekend when he shared his take that people have “got to give” Reform leader Nigel Farage “a chance”.

On Sunday afternoon, the legendary crooner had one of this year’s most anticipated Glastonbury sets, performing in the so-called “Legends” slot.

However, the day before he was due to perform, The Times published an interview with Sir Rod which left many people feeling less enthused at the prospect of seeing him perform.

During the interview Sir Rod was asked for his take on the current political situation in the UK.

“It’s hard for me because I’m extremely wealthy, and I deserve to be, so a lot of it doesn’t really touch me,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m out of touch.

“For instance, I’ve read about Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn’t made him popular. We’re fed up with the Tories. We’ve got to give Farage a chance. He’s coming across well.”

Nigel Farage

Sir Rod added: “What options have we got? I know some of his family, I know his brother, and I quite like him.”

When The Times’ reporter suggested Farage represented “Brexit, tightened immigration policies and unrealistic economic promises”, the Maggie May singer responded: “Yeah, yeah. But Starmer’s all about getting us out of Brexit and I don’t know how he’s going to do that.

“Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.”

I’m one of the biggest Rod Stewart fans around.

I was delighted to read last week that he called out Trump and Netanyahu.

And having read the full quote, I agree that we need alternatives to the two main parties in this country. But Jesus Christ —........

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