UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour intensifies attacks on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over past Russia remarks, aiming to curb party’s growing support as Britons strongly back Ukraine.
As reported by The Independent, a fresh survey highlights Britain’s strong pro-Ukraine stance. Labour prepares to escalate attacks on Mr. Farage‘s party over its views on Russia.
What did the February 2025 survey reveal about Reform Party?
Reform’s rise in the recent poll has put both Labour and the Tories on edge, forcing them to formulate an effective response to counter the party’s rising political and electoral threat.
The recent survey showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a net approval rating of -85 among Britons, making him the world’s least popular leader.
It found that Mr Putin’s net approval among Reform UK voters is -68, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a significant rating of +48.
The poll was conducted between February 16 and 17, and 2,216 adults participated in the survey.
What did Luke Tryl say about Reform UK’s stance on Ukraine?
Luke Tryl, the executive director of the thinktank More in Common, warned that Reform “is out of step with the public on Ukraine and Russia”.
He added,
“Seven out of 10 Brits say it is important to the UK that Ukraine wins the war. Similarly, Reform’s rise looked unstoppable in the election until Farage made his comments about Putin and Ukraine.”
Nigel Farage’s previous comments on Russia
During a 2014 GQ interview, the former leader expressed his stance on Vladimir Putin, stating, “As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin,” when asked about a leader he admired.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight last year, he claimed that the European Union and NATO provoked Russia’s illegal attack on Ukraine. In recent weeks, the longtime Trump ally refrained from condemning the U.S. president, Donald Trump, after he referred to Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator and urged Ukraine to hold elections.
However, Mr Farage rejected claims that Zelensky is a dictator but supported calls for an election timeline. Shortly after, Putin himself called for elections in Ukraine.
He pushed back against Labour’s approach, insisting the claims were “utter nonsense.” Mr Farage pointed out Reform’s leader, Richard Tice, had previously provided medical assistance to Ukraine.
Keir Starmer’s stance on Nigel Farage and Putin
Labour’s new approach was revealed last week when the Labour leader criticized the Reform leader for “fawning over Putin” following his no-show at a parliamentary defense spending debate.
He told reporters in Parliament,
“Nigel Farage failed to attend today’s parliamentary debate. He is fawning over Putin. That’s not patriotism—it’s not what working people need.”
Which Labour MPs condemned Nigel Farage in The House magazine?
Five Labour MPs:
- Mike Tapp
- Will Stone
- Helena Dollimore
- Fred Thomas
- Paul Foster
The above MPs publicly criticized Nigel Farage and his party for allegedly echoing Kremlin rhetoric in an article.
They stated,
“Nigel Farage has openly stated that he admires Vladimir Putin. He has claimed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a consequence of EU and Nato expansion,”
adding,
“Farage also repeated Putin’s demands last year that President Zelenskyy should hold elections before the conflict is over. This is openly parroting the Kremlin’s talking points.”
They continued,
“The truth is, we already know the timetable for elections in Ukraine. It’s after Russia withdraws its troops and the war is finished.”
The article concluded, “Regrettably, we are witnessing a malevolent influence creeping into our parliament — a group of MPs who reject British values, who seek division and who spew Putin’s propaganda.”
What did Richard Tice say about Vladimir Putin?
The Reform UK’s deputy leader speaking in the Commons last week, affirmed Reform UK’s backing for Ukraine, branding Putin as a “monstrous tyrant” and “one of the evil villains.”
What did Andy Burnham say about Labour vs. Reform in the North?
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham indicated that the next election might be a direct head-to-head battle between Labour and Reform in the north.
He warned that Reform poses a significant challenge in a possible byelection for Mike Amesbury’s Runcorn and Helmsby seat, highlighting fast-changing political shifts and the party’s swift rise.
Mr Burnhman said,
“I think it will come, in my view, not to a traditional lineup of all of the political parties and more as a more binary choice at the next election,”
adding,
“Because the Conservative party, I think they’ve almost made themselves somewhat irrelevant in that what’s left has kind of tilted into this sort of the new right view of the world.”