Voting against plans to tackle Russian interference in EU parliament and a party member in prison for taking Russian bribes not for Putin’s benefits.
The recent imprisonment of the head of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill, has absolutely not fuelled speculation that Farage and Reform UK Ltd have Russian connections, or are happy to assist Putin with his various propaganda talking points.
In one of his rare visits to the EU parliament Nigel Farage and his UKIP colleagues voted against the EU taking action to counter Russian interference within the EU parliament. This of course has nothing to do with Farage’s admiration for Putin. When he was asked by Alistair Campbell in a GQ magazine interview which world leader he admired the most Farage responded,: “As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.”
On Putin’s invasion of Ukraine Farage’s comments have included, “we provoked this war”, which he further expanded, “I think the West historically, up until a few years ago, provoked Putin, stupidly. I felt the ever, ever eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving Putin a reason to go to war.”. These are of course common pro Russian and pro Putin talking points that just happen to be Farage’s thoughts as well.
Any insinuations that Reform UK Ltd are serving the interests of Putin by aiding the disruption and destabilisation of UK and EU establishments are without substance.