Nigel Farage's new defence spokesman signals 'clean break' with his past accusations of being a Vladimir Putin apologist

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Reform's Nigel Farage caused a storm at the last general election after claiming EU and Nato expansion had given Russia's president a reason to justify his war against Ukraine.

Published: 23:10 GMT, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 00:32 GMT, 15 November 2026

Nigel Farage's appointment of his first defence spokesman signals a 'clean break' with past accusations of Reform UK's leader being a Vladimir Putin apologist, senior party sources suggest.

Mr Farage caused a storm at the last general election after claiming EU and Nato expansion had given Russia's president a reason to justify his war against Ukraine.

Now former RAF commander Angus MacIntyre, appointed as an Armed Forces spokesman for Reform this month, has used an article in today's Mail on Sunday to stress the party's pivot on Putin and clear support for Kyiv.

He writes: 'As Nigel Farage has remarked, Vladimir Putin is now like a cornered rat – reckless, aggressive and unpredictable.'

Addressing opponents of Reform who have questioned its commitment to defence, he states: 'There have been all sorts of remarks made about Reform's former Welsh leader Nathan Gill, who was rightly jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russian interviews. I say: good riddance.

'I would not have given up a 40-year career in the military unless I knew Reform would put the British interest first.'

A source said: 'As a party we have not always seemed to be sound on Ukraine and Russia, but we have made a clean break with that past.'

Angus MacIntyre (left) was appointed as an Armed Forces spokesman for Reform UK earlier this month

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