Reform UK’s deputy leader has called Vladimir Putin a “vile dictator” and “most evil, evil villain”, amid criticism of his party’s approach to the Russian president.
Richard Tice said both he and party leader Nigel Farage believe Mr Putin is the aggressor in the war with Ukraine and he called for security guarantees to ensure Russia will “never, ever try this monstrous activity” again.
His condemnation of Russia comes days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Farage of “fawning” over the Russian president, and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn appeared to suggest Reform UK MPs are “Putin’s poodles”.
Mr Tice, speaking in a Commons debate to mark the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, said: “We at Reform stand united with the whole of this House in support of Ukraine and all brave Ukrainians against the monstrous tyranny of that most evil, evil villain Putin.”
Mr Tice said “peace through strength is vital” before Labour’s Melanie Ward (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy) intervened to ask the Boston and Skegness MP about remarks previously made by Mr Farage.
When asked which world leader he most admired, Mr Farage said in 2014: “As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.
“The way he played the whole Syria thing. Brilliant. Not that I approve of him politically. How many journalists in jail now?”
Ms Ward asked Mr Tice: “I just wondered if he agreed with the leader of his party, the honourable member for Clacton, who is probably not in Clacton right now, when he said in 2014 that Vladimir Putin was the global leader that he most admired?”
Mr Tice replied: “The issue is that Putin is a vile dictator, we all know that and my leader has also confirmed that it is Putin that is the aggressor in this war.”