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Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
(about 4 hours later)
Gill admits to eight counts of bribery relating to pro-Russia statements made in the European parliament and articles Gill admits eight counts of bribery relating to pro-Russia statements made in European parliament and articles
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament.The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament.
Nathan Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, admitted eight counts of bribery on dates between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019. Nathan Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, admitted eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.
The charges stated that as an elected member of the European parliament for the constituency of Wales in the UK, he “agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money”, which constituted “improper performance” as the holder of an elected office. The charges stated that as an elected member of the European parliament for the constituency of Wales, he “agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money,” which constituted “improper performance” as the holder of an elected office.
It has been alleged that he made statements in the European parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” that would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”. It has been alleged he made statements in the European parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets such as 112 Ukraine that were “supportive of a particular narrative” that would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”.
He was tasked by the Pro-Kremlin Ukrainian Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money, the court was told. He was tasked by Oleg Voloshyn, a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian, on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money, the court was told.
Gill, 52, denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday. Gill’s admissions are a blow for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has not yet commented on the case. At the time of the bribes, Gill was an MEP representing the Brexit party, which was led by Farage at the time. Gill went on to be leader of Reform UK in Wales from March to May 2021 before resigning from the party in the months leading up to his arrest in September of that year.
That charge alleged that Gill conspired with Voloshyn and others between 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020, and that he accepted “quantities of money in cash” which was “improper performance by him of his function or activity as the holder” of a position in the European parliament. Leaving the Old Bailey on Friday, Gill, 52, refused to answer questions posed by the BBC about why he had agreed to take bribes.
Mark Heywood KC, prosecuting, said the guilty pleas were “satisfactory” because the bribery charges reflected the criminal activities. Gill denied one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and the prosecution said they would not pursue that charge, saying the other charges already represented that agreement. He will be sentenced in November and his defence barrister, Peter Wright KC, told the court: “It is recognised that it is inevitable that the defendant will receive an immediate sentencing to prison.”
They emerged after Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Gill denied one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and the prosecution said they would not pursue that charge.
He was first elected as a Ukip member of the European parliament in 2014 and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020, at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit party. The charges emerged after Gill was stopped at Manchester airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.
Gill led Reform UK’s 2021 Welsh parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party. Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, which led the investigation, said: “This case goes to the heart of our democratic values and as we’ve shown here, we will not hesitate to investigate and disrupt anyone seeking to harm or undermine these values and our national security.”
Reform’s support in Wales is surging and polls suggest that Nigel Farage’s party could be the biggest party at the Senedd elections next year. Susan Hawley, the executive director of Spotlight on Corruption, said Gill’s guilty plea “shows just how important robust law enforcement responses to corruption and foreign interference are for protecting our democracy”.
She said: “Bribes to help foreign hostile states get a more favourable hearing in parliament or with the public should have no place in the UK. The UK must ensure that it has robust and well-resourced law enforcement response across the board to tackle corruption and electoral interference.
“The government also needs to be far more transparent about the levels of foreign interference that the UK faces and what it is doing to tackle it. It should be reporting annually to parliament on this.”
Gill was first elected as a Ukip member of the European parliament in 2014 and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020, at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit party. He led Reform UK’s 2021 Welsh parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.
Reform’s support in Wales is surging and polls suggest it could become the biggest party in the Senedd in elections next year.