Cynthia Ezegwu
Nathan Gill, former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and ex-leader of Reform UK Wales, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years and six months in prison for accepting bribes to deliver pro-Russia speeches in the European Parliament.
Gill, who pleaded guilty in September at London’s Old Bailey criminal court, admitted receiving thousands of euros from Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn between December 2018 and July 2019. In return, he made scripted statements and television appearances criticizing Ukraine’s democracy and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, at Voloshyn’s behest.
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb condemned Gill’s actions, stating they “fundamentally compromised the integrity of a supranational legislative body” and highlighted that he had “abused a position of significant authority and trust.”
The court heard that police seized Gill’s phone in September 2021 while he was travelling to Russia, uncovering WhatsApp messages with Voloshyn, including discussions about influencing other MEPs.
Gill, an MEP from 2014 to 2020 under the UKIP banner and briefly a member of the Welsh Senedd from 2016 to 2017, also served as Reform UK Wales leader from March to May 2021. He is no longer a member of the party.
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The case has sparked potential political repercussions for Nigel Farage, current leader of Reform UK, whose party is leading in several opinion polls ahead of next year’s Welsh local elections. Farage, who was unaware of Gill’s activities, has faced criticism over his stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reform UK’s only member in the Welsh parliament was also recently suspended for using a racial slur, compounding the party’s controversies ahead of the elections.
Gill faces significant prison time as the UK justice system sends a clear message against foreign interference in national and international political institutions.