Labour steps up attacks on Farage and Reform over pro-Russia stance

Nigel Farage claimed last year that Russia was provoked into war in Ukraine. In 2014, he said Vladimir Putin was the world leader he most admired. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

Labour is setting out to increase its attacks on Nigel Farage’s Reform UK over its stance on Russia, as polling and focus groups show the public are firmly pro-Ukraine and against Vladimir Putin.

One cabinet source said Labour was planning to “take the fight” to Reform on the issues of the Ukraine war and the NHS after “waking up” to the party’s “softness on standing up to Putin”.