Defence Secretary John Healey has issued a stark warning against trusting Nigel Farage with Britain's national security, following the Reform UK leader's pledge to vote against government plans to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal. Healey made the comments during a flight to Glasgow, as reported by The Mirror.
Healey criticised Farage for his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin and for leading a party of 'Russian apologists'. He pointed to the case of Nathan Gill, Reform's former leader in Wales, who was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for accepting Russian bribes while serving in the European Parliament. Farage had previously described Putin as a 'brilliant operator' in a 2014 interview with GQ magazine.
The dispute arises after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for the UK and France to establish military hubs in Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons. Farage stated he would vote against the current plans, questioning the UK's ability to sustain a long-term deployment due to a lack of manpower and equipment.
Healey expressed full confidence in British forces, stating they would always fulfil their duties to defend, deter, and deploy as required. He also voiced hope that allies, including the United States, would continue to stand with Ukraine in 2026, and emphasised that Putin could end the fighting immediately if he chose to.
A Reform UK spokeswoman defended Farage's position, arguing that Ukraine needs security guarantees but the British Army lacks the resources for a long-term mission. She stated that a Reform government would defend NATO airspace and would not allow Putin to emerge as a winner from any peace deal.
