First Minister calls on Reform Senedd candidate to explain what he knows about Gill bribes
Emily Price
The First Minister of Wales has called for Reform’s Caerphilly by-election candidate to confirm whether he had any knowledge that his former employer Nathan Gill had taken bribes from Russia.
Last week, Gill pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to making several pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament in return for cash between December 6 2018 and July 18 2019.
The activities of Reform’s former leader in Wales were said to include making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.
Gill’s trial had been due to go ahead in May 2026, shortly after Wales’ election where the party he led could win the highest number of Senedd Members.
By pleading guilty, he has avoided the need for a trial which could have seen more detailed evidence emerge.
Adviser
News of the former leader’s guilty plea came as Reform UK looks to secure a win in the October Caerphilly by-election following the sudden death of Labour Senedd Member Hefin David.
Reform’s candidate – Llyr Powell – was at one time employed as an adviser to Nathan Gill, although the party has argued that this was prior to any criminality taking place.
In the Senedd on Tuesday (September) during a rare moment of unity between Labour and the Welsh Conservatives, Tory leader Darren Millar called on Baroness Eluned Morgan to join him in condemning Reform as a “clear and present danger” to Wales’ and the wider UK’s national security.
Mr Millar said: “The former member of this Welsh Parliament, Nathan Gill, admitted to taking bribes to make pro Russian statements in the European Parliament.
“The current Reform leader in Wales – who of course doesn’t live in Wales – Nigel Farage has also disgustingly cosied up to the Russians in the past.
“He has spoken openly of his admiration for Vladimir Putin and even pushed the Russian propaganda lie that the west provoked the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
‘Corruption’
Baroness Morgan agreed that there was a “real possiblity of corruption and chaos” as evidenced by the criminal behaviour of the former leader of Reform in Wales.
She said: “I think we have all be appalled by the acts of the former leader of Reform in Wales and a person who was a member of this Chamber – one of seven members elected to the party led by Nigel Farage.
“By the end of the term, six of them had left.
“I think it is important that people recognise that the Brexit Party, again previously led my Nigel Farage, voted against measures to counter Russian misinformation.
The First Minister added: “This is really serious stuff and I do think that there are questions to be answered by people.
“Not least Reform’s candidate in the Caerphilly by-election Llyr Powell who was employed as an advisor to Gill.
“I think we need to know what did he know? When did he know it? And did he report it?”
Reform UK was invited to comment but did not respond.
Nation.Cymru also enquired about Llyr’s Powell’s connection with Nathan Gill at the weekend but we have still not received a reply.
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We mustn’t forget how close Farage was to comrade Gill.
I think the police should be involved. If Llŷr Powell knew beforehand about Nathan Gill’s bribery activities in my opinion is complicit by association.
Lets see, gill took bribes, he has been convicted. farage batted for putin and did up till he knew it would be bad for him (see speeched in EU etc.) voted in favour of Russia in the EU, fronted brexit, Putin huge win…. nah, nothing to see is there….
Pretty much gurantee Russians would not have one stooge.
I would like to know why so many ‘welsh’ Labour Mp’s are Friends of Israel.
What’s that got to do with Gill committing treason?
Gill pled guilty to bribery—eight counts. Cash for pro-Russian propaganda. This isn’t deflection, it’s criminal conviction. Try to stay on topic.
Are you an official Kremlin misdirector?
What are we not being told?
Gill pleaded guilty to 8 charges of bribery and not guilty to one charge of conspiracy to accept bribes. The charge of conspiracy was left on file and not proceeded with. The conspiracy indictment named Gill and his Russian ‘associate’ and “others”! Nowhere in the public papers are the “others” named. However its in the public interest for the “others” to be named. Also what was the motivation for Gill to plead guilty, was it for a quick hearing, reduced sentence and just a basic narrative of the charges. Imagine a not guilty plea, who would have been the prosecution… Read more »
Gill falling on his sword by pleading guilty has prevented more details being revealed in court. Will we ever find out how many of his cronies have been committing treason?
Given that Russia’s aim, like Farage’s, is to bring down the EU there’s every prospect that he and his fellow former MEPs have questions to answer. MI6 do your job.
Llyr is s member of Reform now but it’s unknown what party he will be s part of in 2 months time. I’ve never knows someone to jump from party to party as much as Llyr does. Follows where he thinks he’ll be the most popular. Always has, always will.
Mark Reckless could give him a run for his money in political party musical chairs; he’s changed parties more often than I change my underpants.
I’ve heard that Reckless has now joined Reform UK (Wales branch) and is hoping to get a seat in the Senedd. Please tell me that this is fake news.
On this particular matter, I feeling media are being overcritical when the full facts aren’t available, and a by election is coming up.
However, it’s surprising that no poltiical party such as the lib dems haven’t pushed for a public enquiry into the governments conduct on brexit, which would include foreign interference. A lot of public trust and confidence needs to be restored, lessons learned – and the seriousness justifies a public enquiry.
Presumably Vladimir doesn’t want that to happen.
Gill is a cretin, always been. Bribery or cash for questions which it is has tainted all parties in politics.
Maybe the FM might want to comment what she knew about a number of fellow Labour MEP’s when she was a MEP, one was convicted over misuse of office funds, paying his wife €12,500 a month for more than 2 years, paying his parents €6,000 every 3 months, other cases as well, EU anti- corruption says 1 in 4 MEP’s investigated, regardless of politics of individuals you cannot throw stones without your glasshouse getting some back.
I think Gill is being used as a distraction, the story should be digging in on the links between Llyr Powell, Matthew McKinnon, Centre for Welsh Studies,Brexit,UKIP, Reform are all connected, none of them care about the welfare of Wales or the people who live here, they’re only interested in how much money they can grab for themselves, they’re racist scum and have no place in Wales.