Julian Malins KC, the Reform UK candidate for Salisbury, the city infamous for the Russian spy nerve agent attack, sparked controversy at a local hustings event by

praising Vladimir Putin. Malins, who is campaigning for the July 4 election, made the remarks on Sunday night, describing Putin as "very good" and comparing him favorably to Adolf Hitler, which drew boos from the audience.

The Salisbury Journal reported that Malins' comments were met with significant backlash, especially considering Salisbury's history. In March 2018, Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with Novichok in the city, resulting in the death of Dawn Sturgess, who later came into contact with the nerve agent. Two Russian military intelligence officers are suspected of carrying out the attack.

At the hustings held at St Thomas' Church, Malins was asked about Reform UK's stance on supporting Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. He emphasized diplomacy and efforts to reach a compromise, stating, "War is not about punishing or running over thousands of young men in tanks."

Malins defended his comments, saying he met Putin and found him to be a good leader in the context of enjoying majority support from Russians. He criticized the labeling of Putin as akin to Hitler, referring to him as the "Austrian gentleman with a moustache."

Cabinet Office Minister John Glen, the Conservative candidate for Salisbury, expressed his dismay at Malins' remarks, highlighting the devastation caused by Putin in Salisbury. He said, "Putin is a danger to the West, and we must stand up to him, not appease him."

Labour candidate Matt Aldridge, an Army veteran, found Malins' comments deeply offensive, both personally and for the Ukrainian people and Salisbury residents affected by Putin's actions. He reaffirmed Labour's commitment to UK defense and NATO.

Liberal Democrat candidate Victoria Charleston described collective shock at the hustings, stating, "No one in Salisbury can condone Putin after the horrors of Novichok." She criticized Malins for siding with Putin over freedom.

Andrew Murrison, the Tory candidate for South West Wiltshire, also expressed his disbelief, saying, "Good grief - this guy standing for Reform in Novichok'd Salisbury expressing his admiration for butcher Putin."

In response to the backlash, Malins clarified that his comments were taken out of context, emphasizing the need for diplomatic engagement with Putin to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. He criticized the interruption of his explanation by what he termed "over-exuberant boos and hisses" from the crowd. Photo by WASD, Wikimedia commons.