Reform names Russia Britain’s top state threat in security review

Reform UK has launched a national security review that calls Russia Britain’s “greatest state threat”, as Nigel Farage seeks to counter claims that he is soft on Vladimir Putin. The review says Russia is waging a hybrid war against the UK and places the threat alongside concerns about China, Iran and Islamist extremists.

Led by Reform’s new defence spokesman, former RAF commander Angus MacIntyre, the review sets out eight principles, including border protection and prioritising the Euro-Atlantic region. Farage has faced scrutiny over past remarks that he understood Putin’s reasons for annexing Crimea and admired him “as an operator”; he says he was misquoted, and Reform points to its support for shooting down Russian aircraft entering Nato airspace and freezing Russian assets to help Ukraine. Labour said the Government had backed Ukraine with billions in military support and was increasing defence spending.