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<\/p>\nVeterans\u2019 minister Al Carns, who served as a special forces colonel, has accused Nigel Farage of weakening Britain by vowing to vote against deploying troops to Ukraine<\/p>\n
12:39, 10 Jan 2026Updated 12:40, 10 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
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Nigel Farage is accused of weakening Britain by vowing to vote against deploying troops to Ukraine(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A Labour minister who served as a special forces colonel has accused Nigel Farage<\/a> of weakening Britain by vowing to vote against deploying troops to Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Veterans\u2019 minister Al Carns, who was awarded the Military Cross in 2011, said having worn the uniform, he knows what it is like to place “your trust and your life” in political leaders back home.<\/p>\n He said the Reform UK leader’s comments are unpatriotic because Britain’s national security relies on defending democracy beyond its own borders. And the former Marine, who served and led during four Afghanistan<\/a> tours, warned that Mr Farage’s position serves nobody but Russian despot Vladimir Putin<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Tuesday Keir Starmer<\/a> and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a statement of intent to send troops into Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. This would see a “multinational force for Ukraine” deployed to prevent future attacks from Russia<\/a>. MPs in the UK will get a vote on sending troops to Ukraine.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Nigel Farage savaged for ‘parroting Kremlin lines’ after Ukraine vote vow<\/a>READ MORE: Russian citizens urged ‘prepare for Armageddon’ after nuclear WW3 threat to UK<\/a> (Image: PA)<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Mr Farage, who skipped Prime Minister\u2019s Questions to go on the radio, said: \u201cIt would be a very interesting vote. I would vote against. We neither have the manpower nor the equipment to go into an operation that clearly has no ending timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n Writing in The Mirror<\/a> today, Mr Carns said: \u201cWhen Mr Farage dismisses serious discussions about collective security, he is not standing up for Britain – he is weakening it. Our national security rests on strong alliances, credible deterrence, and the willingness to defend democratic values beyond our own borders. Ignoring these realities serves no one but Vladimir Putin.\u201d<\/p>\n The Labour<\/a> MP for Birmingham Selly Oak continued: \u201cI have worn this country\u2019s uniform. I know what it means to place your trust – and your life – in the decisions taken by political leaders back home.<\/p>\n \u201cNigel Farage\u2019s refusal to stand with the Prime Minister in supporting Ukraine tells us everything we need to know about the kind of leader he really is.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a brutal, authoritarian regime is attempting to redraw Europe\u2019s borders by force, Mr Farage\u2019s immediate declaration that he would vote against sending British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace settlement – is not principled restraint.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an abdication of responsibility. It is walking away when leadership is required. Evading our moral duty to help secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine is not patriotism – it is politics without courage. It is a failure to rise to the role he seeks to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Be the first with news from Mirror Politics<\/p>\n BLUESKY: <\/strong>Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here<\/a>. And follow our Mirror Politics team here – Lizzy Buchan<\/a>, Mikey Smith<\/a>, Ashley Cowburn<\/a>, Alexander Brown<\/a>, Sophie Huskisson<\/a> and Dave Burke<\/a>.<\/p>\n POLITICS WHATSAPP: <\/strong>Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here.<\/a> We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n NEWSLETTER: <\/strong>Or sign up here to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter<\/a> for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Armed-Forces-Minister-visit-to-STARK-factory.jpg\")
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