Nigel Farage’s chief assistant and the Green Party leader engaged in a heated dispute regarding a former Reform leader who accepted bribes from Russia.
Zia Yusuf was challenged by Zack Polanski on a BBC Question Time episode concerning Nathan Gill, the former leader of the party in Wales. Gill, aged 52, admitted to eight counts of bribery related to statements supporting Russia.
Reform has distanced itself from the disgraced politician, a former UKIP and Brexit Party MEP, awaiting sentencing next month. Polanski questioned Yusuf about Gill’s association with Farage and Reform, highlighting a photo of Farage with Gill, contradicting Yusuf’s claim of not knowing Gill.
Yusuf defended himself by stating he had never met Gill and became chairman after Gill’s tenure. He reiterated that Farage meets numerous people annually, making it impossible to track every individual’s actions.
During the debate, Yusuf emphasized Farage’s extensive interactions with people yearly, dismissing claims of accountability for Gill’s actions during his leadership. Polanski persisted, pointing out Gill’s presence in photos with Farage.
The discussion escalated with Polanski accusing Yusuf of delaying tactics, to which Yusuf clarified that Farage was not the leader when Gill held a position within the party.
Fiona Bruce intervened to shift the conversation, acknowledging the audience’s interests beyond the ongoing dispute. Polanski later shared a photo of Gill and Farage on Twitter, showcasing their past association.
Gill, a former UKIP and Brexit Party MEP, served as the leader of UKIP Wales while Farage led the national party. Gill briefly led Reform UK Wales in 2021 but is no longer a member.
Gill admitted guilt to accepting bribes from Oleg Voloshyn, who has ties to the Russian security services, for making pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament and on TV. He supported TV channels linked to Vladimir Putin’s ally, Viktor Medvedchuk, facing criminal charges.
Commander Dominic Murphy condemned Gill’s actions, emphasizing the importance of protecting democratic values and national security against individuals compromising these principles for personal gain.