BE STRONG TO 'FACE DOWN' RUSSIA

Kemi Badenoch says only her Tories have the 'competence' to deal with Putin's threats

- CONOR WILSON

KEMI Badenoch claims the Tories are the only party with the resolve to confront Vladimir Putin as Britain was warned to prepare for war.

The Conservative leader said the UK cannot afford complacency, arguing that Moscow responds to strength, not concessions.

She told the Daily Express: "People like Vladimir Putin are never satisfied and that is why you don’t appease them. It is why you face them down.

"What worries me is none of the other parties, especially the government, are ready to face this. We have a Labour government that is weak, we have a Reform party where the leader has talked about his admiration for Putin and a leader in Wales who was bribed by Russia.

"I just don't have any confidence that any other party except us has the initiative, the strength, the credibility and the competence to deal with this." As senior defence chiefs warned of the risk of direct conflict with Russia, Mrs Badenoch added in an exclusive interview: "War is avoidable but the best way to avoid a war is to be strong. Strong countries don't get attacked.