Nigel Farage has expressed shock over the Welsh bribery scandal involving Nathan Gill, the former Reform UK leader in Wales. Gill admitted taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements while serving as a Member of the European Parliament.
The Reform UK chief said he was “stunned” to learn of Gill’s actions, which he claimed were entirely unknown to him. Farage explained that he had advised Gill not to visit Ukraine at the time, but Gill defied that advice and went ahead with the trip.
Nathan Gill pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019. Prosecutors said he accepted payments from Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian MP linked to Russian intelligence circles. In return, Gill made speeches supporting Russia and organized events favoring Moscow’s political allies.
The Welsh bribery scandal was uncovered after investigators examined WhatsApp messages found on Gill’s phone. Authorities stopped him at Manchester Airport in September 2021 under counter-terrorism laws, leading to the discovery of incriminating evidence.
During a campaign visit to Caerphilly, Farage addressed the issue for the first time. He said he had known Gill for years and described him as “a God-fearing Christian” who once seemed incorruptible.
Gill’s political career began with UKIP, where he served as a Welsh Assembly Member after the 2016 election. He later joined the Brexit Party and eventually led Reform UK Wales in 2021. His leadership of the regional party lasted only a few months before he left politics.
Farage emphasized that Gill no longer represents Reform UK in any capacity. He added that the scandal was a betrayal of trust for both party members and voters. The Welsh bribery scandal continues to cast a shadow over Reform UK’s image in Wales, just weeks before the Caerphilly Senedd by-election on October 23.
Eight candidates are contesting the seat, which became vacant after the sudden death of Labour’s Hefin David in August. Among them is Llyr Powell, standing for Reform UK as the party attempts to recover from the fallout of the bribery case.
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