Ex leader of Reform in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years for taking Russian Bribes

LemonJam

Public trust in Farage and the Reform party has certainly taken an enormous knock this week. Will be interesting to see how this impacts on forthcoming polls....

I’m sure their fan base will remain loyal .

Public trust in Farage and the Reform party has certainly taken an enormous knock this week. Will be interesting to see how this impacts on forthcoming polls....

…he’s always saying he has no connection with people when they get into trouble…seems to forget that people take photographs.

LizzieDrip

At one point Russia Today, the Kremlin funded broadcaster, offered Farage his own show!

He used to be on Russian tv
“During this time, Farage regularly appeared on the state-controlled TV service, RT (Russia Today), which apparently paid him for his services and boosted every speech he made as an MEP in the European Parliament. It also offered him his own TV show following the EU Referendum.

Given these connections, why did Farage protest in June 2018 that “I’ve never met the Russian Ambassador”?

The Russian embassy website hosted a picture of Yakovenko greeting Farage in May 2013 – the moment that Russian policy pivoted over to its plan to disrupt the EU, before invading Ukraine”.
This is from a few years ago…

Much as I dislike Putin I wouldn't foist that man on the Russian people!

At one point Russia Today, the Kremlin funded broadcaster, offered Farage his own show!

I hope they really do more investigations into anyone suspected of Russian interference/influence.

Allira- in an ideal world wouldn't that be wonderful. Let the will of the people, 9 plus years on, be heard again....The propaganda won't wash this time...

17 times, at least Farage appeared on Russia Today between 2010 and 2014....

Perhaps, on the strength of this, we should have another referendum.

Gill was a pro Russian asset at the heart of UKIP, then Brexit, then Reform. He was enlisted as a pro Russian agent specifically as the Reform party was portrayed Brexit which Putin wanted to promote. Plus recruited specifically to spread the propaganda of Moscow against Ukraine in Europe.

Moscow overtly seeks such sympathetic politicians to promote pro Russia views, from Europe's. nationalist, anti EU and anti migrant parties to share mutual hostility towards the EU block and their establishments/governments. It suits Putin down to the ground.

Of course Farage's own publicly expressed views on Putin and Russia appear to have created an environment in which this more sympathetic than most towards Russia have been drawn to Ukip- then Brexit, now Reform. Farage is not a responsible leader and his Russia connections are overt. He had no difficulty when Gill was promoting his pro Russia views. His only difficulty is that Gill was caught accepting bribes. Other Reform colleagues have made similar points in favour of Moscow's narrative on the war in Ukraine. Farage has spoken of his own admiration ( Putin is the politician he most admires, "I have more respect for him than our lot") for Putin as a political operator and has repeatedly warned the west against "poking the bear with a stick" and accusing the West of provoking a war in Ukraine. Farage does it in plain sight. Farage appeared on state owned 'Russia Today' between 2010 and 2014, on which he made no criticism of Russian 'democracy' and claimed Europe was governed NOT by elected democracies but instead "by the worst people we have seen in Europe since 1945". I suspect Farage did not fly to Russia at his own expense or without financial recompense, it's not in his nature. His payments are in plain sight. Now Farage is an MP he is required to declare such payments as he has more recently for attending MAGA influenced conventions in the USA. He filters such payments through his private company to reduce his tax liability. Overtly Farage told the White House, in Palin sight, he seeks to "change perceptions of who Trump is " in the UK and Europe".

MazieD- I do mean Starmer- either my eyes or spell checker are playing tricks 🥹

I’ve still never found out what Cummings got up to during his time in Russia .

Pretty strong hints from the Met Police Head of counter terrorism.

‘Commander Murphy said that police were continuing to investigate other MEPs, including some from the UK.

"What we do know from the conversations with [Oleg] Voloshyn is that Nathan Gill actually offered his services to contact other MEPs, mostly UK MEPs, to also make statements that might be supportive of a Russian position in Ukraine," he said.

He added: "I do believe that some of the individuals in this case do have direct connections to Vladimir Putin. And I have no doubt that if we were able to, we could follow this trail and it would lead straight to Moscow."’
Sky News.

I agree completely free speech and that men can't be women, I think anyone who went along with that including the BBC are absolutely insane.

Alan McCormick, the GB news chairman went further "Britain has been infected by a mind virus that sees no value in place, family, in community, in love of country and these views have been reinforced by an establishment media who have suppressed any alternative view points".

Are these people actually bordering on insanity? Do they really believe what they are saying?

LemonJam

Tramer- not Starter 🥱

Or do you mean 'Starmer'?😂😂😂

Tramer- not Starter 🥱

Galaxy 15.00 - Yes Starter seeks a positive DIPLOMATIC relationship with Trump as US president, as per usual for UK PM of all political parties. Keir is not seeking an extreme right wing alliance with Trump, shared media to share propaganda and challenge the UK establishment- a huge difference. I am concerned that Farage, as Party Leader so blatantly, in his self interest, seeks to hugely financially benefit from his political connections outside of the UK. His MP and leader of Reform salary should be enough. He is supposed to adhere to Nolan Principles after all. There is potential for corruption and bribery as a result of such alliances as has been seen in court with Nathan Gill. Farage is not leading by example.

I recently posted this on a BBC post: "Trump welcomed a GB News delegation recently, including Farage, to the White House Oval Office. Trump and MAGA support was confirmed for GB news along with backing to support GB news' stateside launch, with a new nightly GB news programme "The Late show Live".

Karoline Leavitt said that GB news shared "the values this administration holds dear: Free Speech, that men can not be women, secure borders- we don't want aliens invading our countries". She confirmed GB news has now been granted access to the White House press briefing room. Howard Lutnick urged GB news to "control that narrative" in the UK. Farage told guests the GB news coverage would "change perceptions of who Trump is " in the UK and Europe".

Alan McCormick, the GB news chairman went further "Britain has been infected by a mind virus that sees no value in place, family, in community, in love of country and these views have been reinforced by an establishment media who have suppressed any alternative view points".

So we now have an overt extreme right wing political alliance between Reform Party Leader and MAGA that will result in overtly promoting in both countries, joined up media reporting of partisan, political views and opinions. Mega and Reform have overtly declared their disdain for and ambition to go against "establishment" media".

The UK does not need MAGA/TRUMP interference in UK affairs. Farage already makes a huge sum of money from his GB news contract in this country. Further potential for corruption, bribery, undermining the UK and promoting propaganda.

It’s a weird story isn’t it. A shallow traitor who deserves all he gets. Heard an old clip of Farage saying what an honourable man he is. He must have heard him bigging up Russia when an MEP. Anyone who thinks the very narrow Brexit vote was won because well educated Brits were totally uninfluenced by propaganda like the bus and those dreadful films showing how marvellous the uk would be post Brexit must be seriously deluded.

LemonJam

The Brexit vote in 2016 was very close- we will never know but may it well have swung the other way with less UK and foreign propaganda. All polls show the result would be the opposite if the vote was taken now, as the electorate is now aware of the adverse impact of the Brexit vote.

9 years later, the question is, why does Reform still seek MAGA alliance etc and can we trust that there is no longer any Russian or any other foreign government interference and bribery in the Reform Party?

I think we can guess why LemonJam, but a MAGA/Putin alliance is uncomfortable to contemplate for Europeans.

How long ago was the BREXIT vote? Quite a few people have changed their minds. In a democracy you are allowed to vote again.

Starmer is also quite rightly keen on maintaining relationships with America. I think it is perfectly obvious why reform would be interested in looking at how Trump was successful in America. Whilst we are two very different countries I am sure they hope to copy that electoral success x 2.

Disgraceful. The Reform Party should be investigated.

The Brexit vote in 2016 was very close- we will never know but may it well have swung the other way with less UK and foreign propaganda. All polls show the result would be the opposite if the vote was taken now, as the electorate is now aware of the adverse impact of the Brexit vote.

9 years later, the question is, why does Reform still seek MAGA alliance etc and can we trust that there is no longer any Russian or any other foreign government interference and bribery in the Reform Party?