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Ukip's Diane James admitted she admires Vladimir Putin for standing up for his country in a car-crash radio debate.

James, the party's foreign affairs spokesperson, said the Russian President was "a strong leader" during an all-women radio debate.

She said: "I admire him from the point of view that he's standing up for his country."

"By invading others?" asked LBC host Iain Dale.

"No, no." replied James. "He's standing up for his country. He's very nationalistic."

Visibly stunned by James' outburst, Labour's Harriet Harman added: "You could say that about Idi Amin."

James clarified her position, saying: "I do admire him, he's a very strong leader, he's putting Russia first."

Her comments suggested Ukip and Putin might share some common ground over their disagreements with the European Union.

She said: "He has issues with the way the EU encouraged a change of government in the Ukraine which he thought put at risk and put in danger the Russian population in that country."

Asked what qualities she thought Vladimir Putin shared with Nigel Farage, she said: "No idea."

She made the comments during a live debate on LBC radio, featuring prominent female members of Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and Ukip.

Follow our live coverage of the LBC all-women debate