In a heated exchange, Nigel Farage’s chief aide, Zia Yusuf, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski clashed over the scandal involving former Reform Party leader Nathan Gill, who admitted to accepting bribes from Russia. Polanski confronted Yusuf on BBC Question Time, pointing out Gill’s guilty plea to eight counts of bribery related to statements supporting Russia.
Reform Party has distanced itself from Gill, a former UKIP and Brexit Party MEP, who is awaiting sentencing. Polanski questioned Yusuf about Farage’s association with Gill, referencing a photo showing them together. Yusuf denied knowing Gill personally, emphasizing that he took over as chairman recently and had never met Gill.
Yusuf reiterated that Farage interacts with thousands of people annually, deflecting blame for Gill’s actions onto the sheer volume of individuals Farage encounters. Polanski pressed Yusuf on the matter, leading to host Fiona Bruce intervening to steer the discussion elsewhere.
Gill, a former UKIP and Brexit Party MEP, was later the leader of Reform UK Wales but resigned in 2021 after admitting to accepting bribes from a Russian individual linked to the country’s security services. Gill made public statements in support of Russian-aligned TV channels and personalities, leading to his legal troubles.
Following the court proceedings, Commander Dominic Murphy of the Met’s counter-terrorism command emphasized the seriousness of an elected official accepting payments to further Russian interests, highlighting the importance of safeguarding democratic values and national security.
