Boris Johnson says Farage's stance on Russia is extremely dangerous'

"My concerns, and they are serious concerns, are about the approach to the economy of the Reform party and the approach on our national security, he said. We are going to need a Conservative government that is strong on defence and doesn't believe, to take a position at random, that the problem in Ukraine was that Nato provoked Putin. I think that's extremely dangerous."

"Johnson said: How are we supposed to explain to hard-working people that their neighbours can take more and more money from the state? We have got to reform welfare. We have got to spend less on public services. Johnson backed Kemi Badenoch as Conservative leader but did not rule out trying to return to lead the party in future, saying he was happy writing his book and working on other projects at the moment."

"The former prime minister also said he was convinced he could have beaten Keir Starmer last year in the general election. He mocked Reform UK's position leading the polls, saying: That party was on zero when I was prime minister and that was because we got Brexit done Who is to say whether that party will even exist before the next election?"

Reform UK advocates positions that include questioning NATO's role in provoking Russia in Ukraine, proposing lifting the two-child benefit cap, and promoting more liberal post-Brexit legal migration. These positions raise concerns about national security, defence readiness, and fiscal discipline. Critics warn that adopting such stances could undermine support for Ukraine, weaken NATO alignment, increase welfare spending, and strain public services. Several current and former Conservative MPs have defected to Reform UK, prompting speculation about electoral alliances or realignment. The Conservative Party faces internal debate over leadership choices and potential cooperation with Reform ahead of the next election.

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