Nigel Farage has stirred controversy again, making a debunked claim about his connections in Reform UK. The outspoken leader stated he’s the only one in the party’s top echelon to have ever met Nathan Gill, the ex-Welsh leader who confessed to accepting Russian bribes during his MEP days. Yet, photos and past events say otherwise. Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, and chairman, David Bull, both have history with Gill, having shared stages and smiles with him on various occasions.
In 2019, Tice praised Gill warmly at a Brexit Party event, and the same year, Bull was part of a delegation to Kashmir with Gill. Moreover, Tice posted a cheerful shot with Gill in 2021, campaigning for tax cuts and against lockdowns in Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts and Welsh Labour have both criticised Farage, questioning the Reform party’s transparency regarding Gill’s actions. Roberts said, “Farage has been caught lying again,” while a Labour spokesman added, “The people of Wales deserve the truth behind Nathan Gill’s deeds and Reform UK’s knowledge of them.”
Farage, amidst electioneering in Caerphilly alongside candidate Llŷr Powell, seemed surprised by Gill’s betrayal, saying, “Have you ever been let down by anybody in your life? I’ve known Gill for 20 years.”
Despite Gill’s statements backing Russian-linked media, Farage claims ignorance of Gill’s pro-Russia actions, asserting he was “completely unaware.”
The debate rages on as Reform UK faces pressure to clarify its stance and past association with Gill. The spotlight is firmly on Farage for his slippery statements in the unfolding drama that ties UK politics with international scandals. What will reform’s next move be? Only time will tell.