Lib Dems call for new Intelligence and Security Committee inquiry into Russian interference as Reform’s Welsh ex-leader pleads guilty to bribery

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Intelligence and Security Committee to launch a new probe investigating Russian interference in British politics, after Reform’s former leader in Wales Nathan Gill admitted to taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia.

The Liberal Democrats’ Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller has said a new investigation should be launched looking into potential ties between Nigel Farage, Reform UK and Russia following the latest revelations. The party has said that the review should be completed and laid before Parliament before the next General Election.

It comes after Reform boss Zia Yusuf dodged questions about the issue this morning after BBC Breakfast showed a series of photos of Nigel Farage campaigning with Nathan Gill during previous Welsh elections.

Farage was previously paid to appear on Russia Today until it was banned in the UK, and once declared that Putin is the world leader he admires the most.

Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, said:

“The revelations in recent days show the lengths to which Russia will go to subvert our democracy and influence our politics. There is a strong case for the Intelligence and Security Committee to launch a new inquiry into Russian interference in our politics, including any further links with Reform UK.

“Nigel Farage was previously paid to appear on Russia Today until it was banned and has said Vladimir Putin is the world leader he admires the most. The British public deserve to know the full extent of the ties between Farage and Russia before the next election.

“We need to avoid a repeat of the last Russia report which the Conservative Party shamefully suppressed until after the country went to the polls. This Government should now  implement in full the recommendations of the last Russia report to establish more confidence in our democratic processes and show that British politics is not for sale to the highest bidder.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Nathan Gill pleaded guilty on Friday to taking bribes to make statements that would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”, both to media outlets and to the European Parliament, of which he was (alongside Nigel Farage) a member at the time (link). Yusuf defended Farage’s connections to Gill this morning on BBC Breakfast.

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) oversees the operations of the UK Intelligence Community  (including MI5, MI6 and GCHQ), and has access to classified evidence under the Official Secrets Act.  The Committee’s “Russia Report” was published in 2020, after being delayed by the then Conservative government, and concluded that Russian interference in British politics is “commonplace” (link).