Nathan Gill: Former MEP goes from Reform UK to Russian bribes
Nathan Gill has suffered a political decline not seen in over 50 years.
The former leader of Reform UK Wales faces prison for accepting Russian bribes while a member of the European Parliament.
The decline of Gill, 52, has almost no parallel, except perhaps for Labour’s John Stonehouse, who faked his own death in 1974 after his political career and business dealings unraveled.
But Gill’s public shaming at the Old Bailey in London invites uncomfortable scrutiny for Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage, who once worked with him in Brussels.
In a recent interview, Mr Farage described Gill as a “bad apple”.
He said he was “shocked” after his former UK Independence Party (Ukip) colleague admitted eight bribery charges.
“Any political party can find all sorts of terrible people in it,” Mr Farage said.
“Gill is particularly shocking because I knew her as a devout Christian, a very clean-living, honest person.
“That’s why I was so surprised. But, you know, it’s a different time. I’m the only one who really knew him (in Reformation) going back a long way.”
The Clacton MP added: “You can never, ever 100 per cent guarantee that everyone you meet in your life, everyone you shake hands with in the pub, is a good person.”
Gill’s activities were said to include making pro-Russian statements to the European Parliament about events in Ukraine over a six-month period between December 2018 and July 2019, and providing opinion pieces to news organizations such as 112 Ukraine.
The married father of five is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a Mormon bishop for six years.
His interests include World War I history, reading, gardening and he confesses to being a sun worshiper.
Gill was born in England but his family moved to Anglesey when he was a child. He joined Ysgol Gymuned Llanerch-y-Medd.
After university, he took over the family business, taking care of the elderly, before entering politics.
Gill has been with Ukip since 2004 and served as an MP for the party and then the Brexit Party from 2014 to 2020.
He was leader of Ukip Wales from 2014 to 2016 and also served as a member of the Welsh Assembly for 18 months from 2016 to 2017.
When he left Cardiff Bay, Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd described Gill as a “largely absent figure” in the Senedd.
“His time in Parliament was marked by internal debates that ultimately led to his dismissal as leader of the Ukip group,” he said.
“Rather than being remembered as Ukip’s first AM, I suspect he will probably not be remembered at all.”
