Reform UK's head of policy has forcefully distanced the party from its former Welsh leader, who was jailed for accepting tens of thousands of pounds to make pro-Russian statements, calling his actions "treasonous" and "horrific".
A 'Treasonous' Act and Party Backlash
Nathan Gill, the 52-year-old former leader of Reform UK in Wales, was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison last week. He admitted to accepting a minimum of £40,000 in cash to promote pro-Russian views to the media and within the European Parliament.
Following the sentencing, Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's head of policy, appeared on Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. He was questioned on whether this case indicated the party held a soft stance on President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Yusuf refuted this suggestion, stating it would be an "incredibly unreasonable position to take". He condemned Gill's actions in the strongest terms, asserting, "Nathan Gill, what he did was treasonous, it was horrific, it was awful. He's been dealt with by the authorities and he deserves the sentence that he got."
Reform UK's Stance on Russia and Nigel Farage
Mr Yusuf was keen to separate Gill's criminal behaviour from the party and its supporters. "As far as we are concerned he is ancient history," he said, adding that he had never met Gill. He argued it was "unreasonable to besmirch Reform and the millions of people around the country who support Nigel and support our party."
The case has intensified scrutiny on Reform UK and its most prominent figure, Nigel Farage. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has demanded an investigation into links between the party and Russia.
Mr Farage's past comments on Russia and NATO have frequently drawn criticism. During the general election campaign, he faced a backlash for stating the West had "provoked this war" in Ukraine.
However, Mr Yusuf defended his boss, insisting Mr Farage has never been sympathetic to Russia's invasion. "When he [Farage] was pressed as to how he would respond if he was prime minister and Russian jets encroached into NATO airspace, his view was that those planes should be shot down," Yusuf stated. "We are crystal clear about our position."
Political Fallout and Calls for Investigation
The opposition Labour Party has seized upon the scandal. Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, accused Reform of "pandering to Moscow".
She highlighted that Mr Farage had previously named Putin as "the leader he most admired" and had "repeatedly parroted Kremlin talking points". Labour is urging Reform to allow an independent investigation to root out any pro-Russia links within the party.
In response to the growing pressure, Nigel Farage said on Friday that an "investigation into Russian and Chinese influence over British politics would be welcome." Police have confirmed that Mr Farage himself was not part of the investigation into Gill.
Following Gill's guilty plea, Mr Farage described his former colleague as a "bad apple" and expressed his shock. He remarked, "Any political party can find in their midst all sorts of terrible people. You can never, ever guarantee 100% that everyone you meet in your life, you shake hands with in the pub, is a good person."
Gill's political career included leading the Welsh wing of UKIP from 2014-2016, serving as an MEP from 2014-2020, and a brief stint as a Member of the Senedd. He was announced as the leader of Reform UK in Wales in March 2021 but quit the party months later after failing to be elected to the Senedd.
