Nigel Farage accidentally read out pro-IRA slogan in birthday message

Nigel Farage has said he did not realise he was citing an Irish republican message when he read out a birthday message that included the slogan “Up the ’Ra!”.

“The ‘Ra” is shorthand slang for the Irish Republican Army (IRA) with the phrase “Up the ‘Ra” denoting support for the group, a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom and an illegal organisation in the Republic of Ireland.

He read the message on Cameo, a platform through which he records personal messages in return for a £74 fee.

In the video he said: “Now, it’s a bit early in the day, so all I’ve got, actually, is coffee. But I hope you enjoy a few pints with the lads tonight. Up the ’Ra!”

Farage told MailOnline that he generally rejected “crude or offensive” messages but indicated that he did not realise the meaning of the message, noting that he has “had a face-to-face death threat from them [the IRA]”.