Putin backs Farage to divide Europeans, warns Lammy

David Lammy has claimed Vladimir Putin wants Nigel Farage and his “right-wing populist” allies to succeed in the hope that they divide Europe.

- DAVID MADDOX

The deputy prime minister’s attack comes after a leading ally of Mr Farage - former Reform UK leader in Wales Nathan Gill - was found guilty of taking money from the Kremlin. It also follows longer-standing concerns over Mr Farage’s “admiration” for the Russian autocrat, even though recently the Reform UK leader described Putin as “a very bad dude” in response to criticism.

Mr Lammy used a major speech in Amsterdam yesterday to claim that Labour and its centre-left allies “are winning” in holding back right-wing populism around the world. This is despite a Find Out Now poll on voting intention putting Labour in third place on 15 per cent - less than half the support for Reform UK on 32 per cent and behind the Tories on 17 per cent.

But the speech echoes the new attacking strategy launched by Sir Keir Starmer at the Labour Party conference last month to take on Mr Farage, whose party he described as “racist” and “immoral”.

Speaking to the conference of European socialists, Mr Lammy highlighted the recent conviction of Mr Gill.