Reform UK's former Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for accepting pro-Russian bribes

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been sentenced to 10 and a half years after he admitted accepting tens of thousands of pounds in cash to make pro-Russian statements to the media and European Parliament.

Nathan Gill had accepted money in "exchange for the improper execution of your public duties", Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said.

Gill, 52, of Anglesey, North Wales, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019 in September.

The Old Bailey heard his activities were linked to pro-Russian statements about Ukraine during his time as an MEP.
He was an MEP for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and subsequently the Brexit Party.

Following an investigation by counter-terrorism police, officers said they believe Gill likely took a minimum of £40,000 in cash and was offering to introduce other British MEPs so they could be bribed. Officers also said they believed some individuals in this case had a direct link to Vladimir Putin.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC previously told the court the bribery offences related to Gill's association with pro-Russian Oleg Voloshyn, who had been a Ukrainian government official before 2014 and was sanctioned by the UK in 2022.

Gill's activities emerged in WhatsApp messages after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021.

He was about to board a flight to Russia to be an observer in elections there.

Bundles of cash recovered

Police said the messages revealed Voloshyn had tasked Gill to make pro-Russian statements on a reward basis. Counter-terrorism officers said the text of some speeches was provided to Gill, which he delivered almost word-for-word.

In other cases, he was paid to offer commentary to news outlets, such as the pro-Russian media organisation 112 Ukraine.

A search of his home in Wales also uncovered thousands in euros and dollars.

Greed 'primary motivation'

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, described Gill as being motivated by money.

"It appears... greed was his primary motivation. But I think there's an element of him that had a pro-Russian stance as well, but only he can answer that question, to be honest with you, he never told us that."

Gill was interviewed in March 2022 and made no comment. He was charged and appeared in court in February 2025.

The Old Bailey was told messages between Gill and Mr Voloshyn involved an "agreement to receive money in connection with his performance in his duties as a member of the European Parliament".

They included "posing questions for the consideration of (the European) parliament, making contact with senior officials of the European Commission at the parliament, arranging for events and making statements", the prosecution told the court.

Other UK politicians at risk

Commander Murphy said that police were continuing to investigate other MEPs, including some from the UK.

"What we do know from the conversations with [Oleg] Voloshyn is that Nathan Gill actually offered his services to contact other MEPs, mostly UK MEPs, to also make statements that might be supportive of a Russian position in Ukraine," he said.

He added: "I do believe that some of the individuals in this case do have direct connections to Vladimir Putin. And I have no doubt that if we were able to, we could follow this trail and it would lead straight to Moscow."

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Gill was previously a member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), leading the Welsh wing of the party between 2014 and 2016.

He was a member of the Senedd between 2016 and 2017, and a member of the European Parliament between 2014 and 2020.

He left UKIP in 2019, and the same year he joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party - later Reform UK - and was elected as a Brexit Party MEP.

Political fallout after prison term

Police have confirmed Nigel Farage has not been part of this investigation, but political rivals have called on the Reform UK leader to launch a thorough investigation.

Defence minister Al Carns, a former colonel in the Royal Marines, said Gill's actions were "a disgrace". He added: "I just think wherever we see Russian influence in UK politics, it's got to be weeded out."

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey launched a direct attack on Mr Farage by calling him, and his party, "a danger to national security".

"Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putin's TV channel, Russia Today, and said he was the world leader he admires the most.

"We must all ask - where do his loyalties really lie? We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics," he said.

Reform UK, which previously kicked Gill out of the party, said in a statement: "Mr Gill's actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received."

(c) Sky News 2025: Reform UK's former Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for accepting pro-Russian bribes