Reform UK Salisbury candidate says Putin 'seemed very good'

Julian Malins KC told a hustings audience that the Russian president "is not the Austrian gentleman with a moustache come alive again" on Sunday evening, June 23.

This was in response to a public question about whether Mr Malins' government would continue to support Ukraine.

Read live coverage of the hustings here

Acknowledging that thousands of young Ukrainian and Russian men were dying as he spoke, Mr Malins added: "We support diplomacy. We support every possible effort to reach a compromise and a settlement over the issues in Ukraine.

"That is what the adults in the room do. Stop the killing and negotiate a proper settlement."

Julian Malins said he had a 10 minute chat with Vladimir Putin. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

The 74-year-old continued: "War is not about as it were punishing or in some way running over thousands of young men in tanks and blowing them up because one person takes points of view which you disagree with.

"I have actually met Putin and had a 10-minute chat with him and he seemed very good. He is not the Austrian gentleman with a moustache come alive again."

Boos and looks of disgust were directed towards Mr Malins, who does not live in Salisbury, after he made this statement.

Some audience members booed while Julian Malins spoke. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

A member of the public, who has housed two Ukrainian refugees for the last two years, then accused Mr Malins of being out of touch.

She said: "I can't believe what I've just heard.

"How can you in Salisbury, where we had Novichok on our streets, say that?"

Julian Malins has been approached and asked to comment further on his remarks.