Nigel Farage faced ridicule for the timing of his New Year message as a joke was made about it. The leader of Reform UK shared a lengthy video promoting “hope” in the morning, following a teaser post the previous night hinting at the message’s release time of 9 am.
Criticism arose regarding Reform UK’s potential associations with Russia, particularly after the party’s former leader in Wales was imprisoned for accepting Russian bribes. Labour MP Jonathan Brash humorously questioned whether Farage’s timing reference was based on Britain’s time zone or Moscow’s, quipping, “GMT or Moscow time?”
In his New Year address, Farage criticized the government, expressed concerns about education, and denounced environmental policies. He also raised issues about public fear and online censorship. Promoting Reform as a beacon of hope, he encouraged people to join his right-wing movement.
The jest by Mr. Brash highlighted the ongoing controversies surrounding Reform UK. The former Welsh leader, Nathan Gill, was convicted and sentenced to over a decade in prison for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russia narratives during his time as an MEP for UKIP and the Brexit Party, both previously led by Farage.
Gill’s illicit dealings involved substantial payments from a Ukrainian ex-MP linked to Russian intelligence services. Keir Starmer, in a recent parliamentary session, further criticized Reform’s potential ties to Russia, adding a humorous remark about reporting suspicious activities to the authorities in light of the Gill scandal.
Farage dismissed the need for an internal investigation into Russian influences within his party, asserting that Reform is not a policing entity. However, he welcomed the proposal for a nationwide inquiry into potential foreign interference in British politics, acknowledging the prevailing doubts and emphasizing the importance of such scrutiny.