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Tim Montgomerie joined the Liberal Democrats and Andy Burnham in criticising the Reform UK leader
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A former Conservative advisor who defected to Reform UK has called on the party to take a stance on Russia and Ukraine.
Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home and a Tory Party member for over three decades, defected to Farage's party in December.
However, he has now called on the Clacton MP to make his stance clear and break his silence on Trump and Ukraine.
He joins Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham who have also criticised the party.
Farage has come under fire from Tim Montgomerie and Sir Ed Davey
PA
Columnist Tim Montgomerie joined Reform last year
PA
Montgomerie said: "Reform’s silence on Trump and Ukraine must end and end urgently: Nigel Farage has invested a great deal in his relationship with Trump and on so many issues from immigration, tax, net zero and trans on the domestic front to a more hawkish approach to China and Iran on the global stage, there was good reason to do so.
"But the last few days have changed everything. I had a lot of sympathy with candidate Trump’s ambition to end an incredibly deadly war which had begun to resemble WW1 in the scale of fatalities being incurred without any obvious conclusion to fighting in sight.
"But Trump has moved well beyond that humanitarian goal. It’s clear he has chosen to ally himself with the blood-stained tyrant in the Kremlin rather than the invaded people of Ukraine and their grievous suffering. Trump’s dishonest attacks on Ukraine and Zelensky in recent days could have been written for him by Putin.
"By joining other British political parties in disowning the US’ posture on Ukraine Farage and Reform may even provide the wake up call that the likes of Rubio, Vance, Thune and Johnson need to hear too."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has also slammed the Reform UK leader
PALiberal Democrat party leader Sir Ed Davey didn't hold back
Parliament.tv
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wrote on social media: "Normally you can’t escape Reform MPs gobbing off on here but interesting, isn’t it, how silent they are about their friend’s campaign to undermine President Zelensky and Ukraine. Just when you need them to use some influence to protect British interests, they don’t."
Sir Ed Davey added: "There's a rumour that Nigel Farage is keeping his head down because he's off to a Trump cheerleading conference over the weekend.
"I’m afraid I’m being proved right- Farage is far more interested in Trump's success than British security. He is a bootlicker and a plastic patriot."
Responding to the claims, Nigel Farage told GB News: "Let's be clear. Zelensky is not a dictator. But it's only right and proper that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections.
"I recently said that I thought Keir Starmer was behaving like a dictator because we've cancelled the vote. He's cancelled the vote of 5.5 million people in local elections on May 1 this year. So no, he's not a dictator. But there needs to be a timeline so that the Ukrainian people can vote on a peace deal."
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has commented on the situation
GB NewsGreat Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe added: "Zelensky is not perfect, but he is not a dictator. Suspending elections, with the aim to hold a vote as soon as possible, during a war the Ukrainians did not start is fair. Trump's right. The war cannot go on forever. We need a long-term settlement tolerable to all involved."
Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire and the party's foreign affairs spokeswoman, said: "Trump’s comments become more delusional and dangerous by the day.
"It’s more vital than ever that the UK government speaks truth to power, stands up for British values and interests, and challenges Trump’s tsunami of disinformation."