Nigel Farage faced mockery over the timing of his New Year message, which was teased to be unveiled at 9 am today after a post on X hinted at its release last night. The Reform UK leader was taunted for the party’s potential connections to Russia, especially following the imprisonment of the party’s former leader in Wales for accepting Russian bribes.
Responding to Farage’s announcement of the timing, Labour MP Jonathan Brash humorously questioned whether the reference was to Britain’s time zone or Moscow time with a witty quip, “GMT or Moscow time?”
In his New Year address, Farage criticized the government, expressed concerns about schoolchildren being taught to feel “ashamed of the past,” and denounced what he called “extremist net zero policies.” He also claimed that people are afraid to wear jewelry in public and suggested that individuals might face repercussions for posting inappropriate content on Facebook.
Farage emphasized that Reform is the party that represents hope and encouraged individuals to join his right-wing movement. However, Brash’s jest served as a stark reminder of the party’s recent challenges. Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, was sentenced to over ten years in prison for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russia viewpoints in his public appearances.
Gill, who previously served as an MEP for UKIP and the Brexit Party under Farage’s leadership, later led Reform in Wales before resigning following the 2021 Senedd election defeat. The former leader was found to have received at least £40,000 from a former Ukrainian MP with alleged ties to Russian intelligence services according to the US Government.
Keir Starmer also took a dig at Reform’s suspected Russian connections during the final Prime Minister’s Questions of the year, where he made a festive reference to the Gill case. The incident prompted laughter in the Commons, including a lively response from Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice.
Following Gill’s conviction, Starmer initiated an investigation into foreign financial interference in British politics, describing the case as a threat to democracy. While Farage dismissed the need for an internal probe into Russian influences within Reform, he supported a nationwide inquiry, acknowledging the prevailing doubts on all sides.
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