Claim: Nathan Gill, a former Farage ally, has pleaded guilty to Russian-linked bribery offences
Summary
Nathan Gill, a former ally of Nigel Farage and once a senior figure in Reform UK, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery connected to a Russian-linked influence operation. The offences occurred between December 2018 and July 2019, when Gill served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Wales.
According to the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Gill accepted financial advantages from a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian intermediary in exchange for promoting messages favourable to Russia in parliamentary questions and media comments. The payments were designed to benefit Russian interests concerning events in Ukraine.
Gill admitted all charges at the Old Bailey in September 2025 and will be sentenced on 21 November 2025. The Met described the case as conduct that struck “at the heart of democratic integrity.”
Farage connection
Nathan Gill’s political career has long been intertwined with Nigel Farage’s parties and campaigns.
- Gill was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014, part of the same slate that sent Farage to Brussels for the final time.
- In the European Parliament, Gill sat in the same group as Farage — the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) — and frequently appeared alongside him in press conferences.
- When Farage launched the Brexit Party in 2019, Gill joined immediately and campaigned with him throughout that year’s European election campaign.
- After the party re-branded as Reform UK, Gill became leader of its Welsh branch, one of the few regional figures authorised to speak publicly on the party’s behalf.
Though Gill later left the party and had no formal role when the bribery case emerged, his earlier prominence means his conviction is relevant when assessing the broader network of individuals once aligned with Farage’s political projects.
Background of the case
Court documents and police statements show that Gill’s offences involved a series of covert payments routed through Oleg Voloshyn, a Ukrainian national associated with pro-Kremlin political circles. Prosecutors said Gill agreed to receive these funds in return for making public statements, asking parliamentary questions, and giving interviews that echoed Russian talking points about Ukraine and European sanctions.
Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command and the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division led the inquiry. They concluded that Gill’s actions amounted to “improper performance” of his official duties as an MEP. The offences, they said, formed part of a broader pattern of Russian attempts to cultivate sympathetic voices within European institutions.
In court, Gill confirmed that he accepted the payments and that they influenced his conduct as an elected official. He told investigators that he “deeply regretted” his actions.
Why it matters
The case has drawn attention because it involves a former senior figure from the Farage movement, which has played a major role in shaping the UK’s modern populist right. There is no evidence or allegation that Farage himself was aware of or connected to the bribery scheme. However, Gill’s conviction highlights how individuals linked to populist and Eurosceptic politics have been targeted by foreign-influence efforts seeking to sway public opinion inside Western democracies.
It also underlines the continuing challenge of transparency and accountability in political funding. The UK Parliament and European authorities have introduced new rules on the declaration of foreign contacts and payments, but enforcement remains uneven. Analysts from transparency groups such as Spotlight on Corruption have said the Gill case demonstrates how covert money can still reach elected representatives through intermediaries.
For observers of Farage’s political world, the episode is a reminder that party networks often extend beyond the control of any single leader, and that reputational risks can arise even after individuals move on.
Verdict
✅ True — Nathan Gill, a former Farage ally and ex-leader of Reform UK Wales, has pleaded guilty to eight bribery offences linked to a Russian influence operation. The guilty plea and case details have been confirmed by court records and official police statements.