Nigel Farage's new defence spokesman signals 'clean break' with his past accusations of being a Vladimir Putin apologist
By GLEN OWEN and GABRIEL MILLARD-CLOTHIER, POLITICAL REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
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.
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
Senior Reform sources say Mr Farage's appointment of Mr MacIntyre signals a 'clean break' from past accusations of him being a Vladimir Putin apologist
It comes as speculation continues to swirl about Mr Farage's hunger for the party leadership in the face of sinking poll numbers.
A survey by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, reported in last week's Mail on Sunday, put Kemi Badenoch's Tories eight points ahead of Reform. Labour were on 31 per cent, the Conservatives on 26 per cent and Reform on 18 per cent.
Mr Farage dismissed the accuracy of the poll, but the broader trend of a Tory resurgence at Reform's expense has been widely detected.
One Reform insider said: 'Nigel has become obsessed with the polls. He watches them like a hawk.'
The source added that they fear he could quit if the ratings dip below 18 on average.
Meanwhile, pollcheck's 'poll of polls' puts Reform on 21, in joint-second place with the Tories, with Labour on 28.
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