As we have been reporting in our live politics coverage today, the right-wing Reform UK party has overtaken the governing Conservative Party in an opinion poll for the first time.
In light of this development – which puts Reform in second place behind Labour – its leader is predictably facing additional scrutiny.
As such, Nigel Farage was asked this morning about his previous remarks praising the Russian president.
Vladimir Putin is a “clever political operator”, Mr Farage told BBC Radio 5 Live, before adding that he “does not like him as a human being in any way at all”.
Challenged about his admiring comments about the Russian president, the Reform leader said: “Yeah, but not as a human being.”
Asked why, Mr Farage replied: “How many years has he been in power? He’s gone from prime minister, to president, he’s a clever political operator. He kills journalists, I don’t like him as a human being in any way at all.
“You can recognise the fact that some people are good at what they do, even if they have evil intent.”
Asked if Adolf Hitler was good at what he did, Mr Farage replied: “What, as a public speaker? What do you think? Clearly, hypnotic in a very dangerous way.”
For context: In 2014, Mr Farage named Mr Putin as the leader he most admired, calling his handling of the Syria crisis “brilliant”.
He said he liked the Russian president for the way he worked, rather than for his political and personal approach.
Asked which current world leader he most admired, Mr Farage told GQ magazine at the time: “As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.
“The way he played the whole Syria thing. Brilliant. Not that I approve of him politically. How many journalists in jail now?”
