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Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales in court over alleged favourable Russia statements

By Mark Mansfield
Nathan Gill speaking on the subject of Ukraine in the European Parliament

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has appeared in court accused of accepting bribes in exchange for making favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament.

Nathan Gill is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Gill allegedly made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” which would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”.

The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money.

During Monday’s hearing, the 51-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address with no pleas being entered to the charges.

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Manchester Airport

Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard.

He was first elected as a Ukip member of the European Parliament in 2014 and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020 – at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit Party.

The defendant led Reform UK’s 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.

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Jurisdiction

The Crown Prosecution Service said charges have been authorised against Voloshyn but he is not in the jurisdiction.

Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Voloshyn, and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on March 14.

 

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38 comments

Mab Meirion

That is the dock Fat Shanks should be in, compared to old Big Dog, Gill is a Flea...

Reply
Adrian

…and 2TK of course, for his lockdown tryst with a (ahem) vocal coach!

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Fi yn unig

Nigel Farage named Vladimir Putin as the world leader he most admires. Not a presumption of mine but widely reported and never denied nor corrected so if it were to be found that money had changed hands for this apparent endorsement, can we expect an arrest?

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Jeff

If only there was a clue...... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/10/brexit-party-meps-vote-against-measure-to-combat-russian-propaganda

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Fanny Hill

Well that’s an interesting read. Have Counter Terrorism read it? Hope so.

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In reply to Fanny Hill

Jeff

Dunno. There is a very good investigative journalist called Carole Cadwallader. Worth looking up if she has not been on your radar before. Does lots of excellent work.

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Adrian

Yet Reform will sweep the board in Wales this year.

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Bertie

What are the Nuremberg rallies like? Do you have to become a shareholder to attend? Asking for a friend.

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Jeff

But they remain led by a bloke supporting a nazi saluting idiot and bows to a coward in Putins pocket and by extension that is all reform are.

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In reply to Jeff

Adrian

That's right Jeff, Elon Musk's Nazi salute...you really do believe this rubbish don't you?

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In reply to Adrian

Jeff

Who did it better? Bannon or Musk? Must admit bannon was looking worried but he did it. That is the CPAC that Nige and Truss were at I think (?) and neither walked out, unlike the french far right that did walk out.

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In reply to Jeff

Adrian

If pictures were allowed on here Jeff I could send you pics of Hilary Clinton and both Obamas performing the same salute...but let's not burst that cozy little lefty bubble eh?

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In reply to Adrian

Jeff

Seen em. Debunked. But you realise you are using them to try to justify Nige's fav possible benefactors nazi salute on stage. And the musk tried to joke his way out of it, he didn't deny it.

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In reply to Adrian

Fanny Hill

You wouldn't want to see my picture , dear.

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Jeff

Oh yeah, nige’s best mate just voted with Russia in the UN. All about the Ukraine invasion. Reform in putins pocket eh?

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FrankC

Where are you going to vote in the Senedd elections then? Can you do that from England😂

Reply

In reply to FrankC

Adrian

Erm...I live in Wales Frank: why else would I bother trying to push back against the radical lefties on here?

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In reply to Adrian

Fanny Hill

Any "radical lefties' in Wales you'd care to name who are taking bribes from Putin and his cronies?

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Fanny Hill

Adrian bach, I'll say this for you, you're the epitome of an eternal optimist. God bless you.

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John Ellis

I think that 'sweep the board' may prove to be an exaggeration. And of course the vote which really matters will be next year, not this year. But I'll be surprised if Reform doesn't establish any sort of significant presence in the Senedd after the vote in May next year. I might even be tempted to vote Labour on my patch if, nearer the time, that seriously looks as if it might happen. Too early to tell, yet. But, if push comes to shove, I'd rather see a Labour MS representing me than a Farageist. Lesser of two evils.

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Fanny Hill

Well that's a Freudian slip. So where exactly are these elections in Wales this year? You do realise Wales is not England.

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Fanny Hill

Are they coming for Farageski? What aren't we being told?

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HarrisR

I await, with deep interest, a large number of prominent British politicians and "friends of" lobbyists, arraigned in the British courts for similar well financed propaganda and advocacy of ISRAELI apartheid, war crimes, genocide and illegal occupation. Ongoing. But I'm not holding my breath because the indiscriminate slaughter of an entrapped population is very "ok". Liberal hypocrisy rides a tall horse in our "civilised" world.

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Johnny

Looks like you are being voted down by Zionist bots. Disclaims not all Jewish people are Zionists.

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Bertie

Gosh. You're working hard to misdirect.

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Glen

What's the difference between Gill and Labour politicians taking 'donations' from pro-Israel organisations?

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Fanny Hill

Has Israel poisoned and murdered any UK citizens on our streets?

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Johnny

They have murdered countless Palestinians with arms supplied from the UK plus they were responsible for the deaths of British Citizens working in Gaza

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In reply to Johnny

Fanny Hill

How many innocent civilians has Russia killed in Ukraine and Syria?

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In reply to Johnny

Rob

Killing British citizens is one thing, its something else when they are killed on their own soil. I do not support Israel or those who accept donations from them, but the UK government has a duty to protect its citizens from foreign threats within its own borders. Litvinenko's death and the Salisbury incident happened within the UK's jurisdiction, that means them a threat.

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John

To be honest, this is quite a revelation, and in any other country this would be much more significant national news. I wonder why the news has dripped out piece by piece, and slowly on this news item? Worth remember that during the UKIP-era, Gill was Farage's anointed leader in the Senedd and bickered constantly with the millionaire grouping (Hamilton and Tice etc).

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Fanny Hill

As I asked in my previous post," what aren't we being told?" Is there more to come?

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Llyn

Remember Gill is a very close political ally and friend of the leader of the far-right English nationalists Reform UK.

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Y Cymro

Is this what you want Wales? A Russia stooge. And don't forget that Reform UK mobster Nigel Farage wanted Nathan Gill to become leader of Reform UK in Wales if he was elected to the Senedd in 2026. And less we forget his tenure in the Senedd as a then Ukip & Brexit Party AM. He was an absolute bloodsucking Tory tick on the backside of Wales. Gill's a shirker not a worker. Who spent most of his time baiting ministers in the EU parliament with fascist Farage when he should have been representing the interests of constituents. Good riddance to this crooked Conservative.

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John Ellis

But apparently Reform are saying today that Gill's no longer one of their own - 'nothing to do with us these days'. Which leaves me wondering how that schism came about, because it's the first I've heard of it. Anyone know?

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Bertie

This was years ago. Did the Cons sit on it?

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Replying to Adrian Cancel

Yet Reform will sweep the board in Wales this year.

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