Things got spicy on BBC Politics Live when Labour MP Jeevun Sandher accused Reform UK of cosying up to Vladimir Putin.
The clash came during a debate on the recent local elections. Sandher, representing Loughborough, squared off against Gawain Towler, Reform UK’s head of press.
Towler claimed Labour doesn’t care about “farmers and pensioners,” but Sandher hit back hard.
“The difference between us and you is that we stand up to Putin and your leader sucks up to Putin,” he said, referring to Nigel Farage.
Towler wasn’t having it.
“Absolute rubbish… we don’t suck up to foreign dictators,” he fired back.
🏳️🌈 Reform sparks outrage with Ukrainian flag ban
The argument came just as Reform UK faced a storm of criticism over a controversial new rule—banning Ukrainian flags from council buildings.
Fresh from winning control of 10 English councils, Reform declared that only the Union Jack and St George’s Cross could fly.
Chairman Zia Yusuf made the party’s position crystal clear:
“No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls.”
County flags were later given the green light after backlash—but Ukraine’s flag is still off-limits.
🕊️ VE Day timing raises eyebrows
The flag ban announcement landed awkwardly—smack in the middle of VE Day commemorations. While Brits were honouring wartime allies, Reform’s decision sent the opposite message.
🤬 “Sickening,” says Labour MP
Labour’s Mike Tapp, MP for Dover and Deal, didn’t mince his words:
“It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.”
He continued:
“While it is sickening, it should come as no surprise: Farage told us that Vladimir Putin is the world leader he most admires. Farage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban immediately.”
🎖️ Veterans Minister: “It’s completely wrong”
Even Veterans Minister Al Carns joined the backlash.
“On the day that Ukrainian troops march alongside British personnel to commemorate VE Day, it’s completely wrong for Reform to pull down the Ukrainian flag from council buildings.”
He added:
“The Ukraine conflict is a reminder that freedom isn’t free. We must continue to stand up for the values our VE generation fought for.”
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