Reform candidate slammed for pro-Putin remarks

Another day, another election mishap. This time it’s Reform UK under fire after one of the party’s candidates was found to have made pro-Putin comments during a hustings. Julian Malins KC, Reform’s Salisbury candidate, was booed at a recent election event after declaring that Putin ‘seemed very good’. Oo er.

Asked by an audience member at the event whether a Reform government would support Ukraine, Malins told the people of Salisbury that:

We support diplomacy. We support every possible effort to reach a compromise and a settlement over the issues in Ukraine. That is what the adults in the room do. Stop the killing and negotiate a proper settlement. 

I have actually met Putin and had a 10-minute chat with him and he seemed very good. He is not the Austrian gentleman with a moustache come alive again.

Oh dear. The Salisbury Journal reports how Malins’ answer was met with ’boos and looks of disgust’, while one local accused the Reform candidate of being out of touch.