Farage Stunned Ex-Wales Reform Leader Took Bribes
Reform UK Leader Expresses Shock Over Nathan Gill's Conviction Amid Past Political Ties
By UK Politics Desk | October 10, 2025
Farage Reacts to Ally's Legal Downfall
LONDON — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has publicly expressed shock over the bribery conviction of Nathan Gill, the party's former Wales leader, who pleaded guilty to taking payments to promote pro-Russian statements while serving as a Member of the European Parliament. Farage, speaking during a campaign visit for the Caerphilly Senedd by-election, described Gill as seeming "the least corruptible person you would know," highlighting the unexpected nature of the revelations that have cast a shadow over Reform UK's past associations.
Gill, who served as a UKIP and later Brexit Party MEP from 2014 to 2020, and led Reform UK Wales briefly in 2021, admitted to eight counts of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019. He accepted money from Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian parliament member for the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party, described by the US government as a "pawn" of Russian secret services. In exchange, Gill made pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament, statements to a TV channel, and arranged an event with a politician close to Moscow.
The activities came to light through WhatsApp messages on Gill's phone, discovered after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13, 2021, under counter-terrorism laws. Gill, no longer a Reform member, is set for sentencing in November, where his defence barrister expects him to be jailed. Farage, who knew Gill from their time in the European Parliament during the UKIP days, said he was unaware of the pro-Russian statements and had advised Gill against a trip to Ukraine, calling it "one of the most corrupt countries in the world."
Farage emphasized that he "didn't know anything about it" regarding Gill's statements, noting that Gill defied his advice and went to Ukraine anyway. The two had a long history, with Gill being one of seven UKIP politicians elected to the Senedd in 2016 when Farage led the party. They campaigned together, including at a 2019 European elections event in Caerphilly, where photos show them walking side by side.
This scandal emerges amid the Caerphilly Senedd by-election on October 23, prompted by the death of Labour member Hefin David in August. Reform UK's candidate, Llyr Powell, is among eight contenders, including representatives from Liberal Democrats, Gwlad, Greens, Conservatives, UKIP, Labour, and Plaid Cymru. Farage's comments came during his support for the campaign, underscoring the ongoing relevance of past associations in current political battles.
Revelations Raise Questions on Past Ties
Gill's conviction for bribery, involving pro-Russian activities during his MEP tenure, not only exposes personal misconduct but also prompts scrutiny of Reform UK's historical connections, as Farage's "stunned" reaction highlights a potential blind spot in leadership oversight during Gill's brief 2021 role as Wales leader, raising broader concerns about the party's vetting processes.
The case, uncovered through 2021 airport messages, details payments from a pro-Russian figure for speeches and events, activities Farage claims ignorance of despite their shared UKIP and Brexit Party history from 2014 to 2020, including joint campaigns like the 2019 Caerphilly event.
As Gill faces November sentencing with expected jail time, this scandal intersects with the Caerphilly by-election, where Reform's candidate competes amid eight contenders, potentially influencing voter perceptions of the party's integrity in a contest triggered by a Labour member's death.
Details of Gill's Political Background
Gill served as UKIP Wales leader from 2014 to 2016, was elected to the Senedd in 2016 as one of seven UKIP members under Farage's party leadership, and acted as Brexit Party MEP until 2020, before briefly heading Reform UK Wales in 2021 during the Senedd election campaign.
Timeline of the Bribery Offenses
The eight bribery counts occurred between December 6, 2018, and July 18, 2019, involving money from Oleg Voloshyn for pro-Russian speeches in Parliament, TV statements, and events with Moscow-linked politicians, discovered via WhatsApp after a 2021 airport stop.
Caerphilly By-Election Context
The October 23 by-election, caused by Labour MS Hefin David's August death, features eight candidates including Reform's Llyr Powell, with Farage campaigning there when addressing Gill's case, linking past scandals to current political stakes.
Key Statements on the Scandal
"I'd known this person for a very long time, I knew him in the European Parliament in the UKIP days to be God-fearing Christian, somebody that you would think was the least corruptible person that you would know, so the whole thing was a stunning revelation to me."
"I didn't know anything about it, all I knew was that he'd been to Ukraine. He said 'we're going on a visit to Ukraine, do you want to come?' I said 'you're off your rocker, this is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, you must be mad'. And I told him not to go. He defied me and went."
"I was completely unaware of any statements that he made. Gill took money from Oleg Voloshyn, once described by the US government as a 'pawn' of Russian secret services, and made pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament, statements to a TV channel and arranged an event with a politician close to Moscow."
"Gill's activities emerged in WhatsApp messages on his phone after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under counter-terrorism laws. He is no longer a Reform member, and his defence barrister has said he expects to be jailed at his sentencing in November."
"Farage campaigned alongside Nathan Gill in Caerphilly in 2019 for the European elections, and Gill was one of seven UKIP politicians elected to the Senedd in 2016 when the party was led by Farage, highlighting their long-standing political association despite current denials of close ties."
Gill's Political Journey and Ties to Farage
Nathan Gill's career spanned UKIP Wales leadership from 2014 to 2016, election to the Senedd in 2016 under Farage's UKIP, MEP roles for UKIP and Brexit Party from 2014 to 2020, and a short stint as Reform UK Wales leader in 2021, including joint campaigns with Farage like the 2019 Caerphilly event.
The bribery scandal, involving pro-Russian actions from 2018 to 2019, surfaced in 2021 via airport messages, leading to Gill's September 2025 guilty plea, with sentencing in November 2025 expected to result in jail time, marking a fall from his Reform affiliations.
Broader Implications for Reform UK
As Farage campaigns in Caerphilly amid the by-election, Gill's conviction could dent Reform's image, with past photos and roles surfacing to challenge claims of distance, potentially influencing voter turnout in a race featuring eight candidates including Reform's Llyr Powell.
This episode, unfolding on October 10, 2025, tests Reform UK's resilience, as Farage's shock underscores the risks of unvetted alliances in a party built on anti-establishment rhetoric.
Categories, Keywords, and Sources
Categories: UK Politics, Political Scandals, Reform UK, Bribery Convictions, Party Leadership
Keywords: Nigel Farage Nathan Gill, Reform UK Wales bribery, pro-Russian statements MEP, Caerphilly by-election 2025, Farage stunned reaction
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