LEGAL threats have forced Welsh Labour to delete social media posts over the weekend about Reform UK’s Caerphilly by-election candidate, Llyr Powell.

The posts followed news that former Reform MEP Nathan Gill had pleaded guilty to bribery charges for making statements in the European Parliament in support of Russia.

Mr Gill was the former leader of Reform UK in Wales and admitted to taking bribes to promote pro-Russian positions while serving as an MEP.

He accepted taking money from Oleg Voloshyn, a man described by the US government as a “pawn” of Russian secret services.

The 52-year-old pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019.

Plaid and Reform are neck-and-neck in the opinion polls to take the safe Labour seat vacated after the death of Senedd member, Hefin David.

Mr Powell has come under scrutiny from Welsh Labour for having worked as Mr Gill’s constituency caseworker while he was a Member of the European Parliament.

Mr Powell denies knowing about the payments made by Russia to Mr Gill, saying his employment ended before the offences took place.

Reform UK wrote a formal legal letter to Welsh Labour, which has since deleted the social media posts.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson told BBC Wales: “While we have removed the social media posts on request from Reform UK, questions remain as to why Reform UK chose a spokesperson for Russia to be their Welsh leader.

“Welsh Labour will not stop asking these questions.”

The opinion polls are showing a collapse in the Welsh Labour vote ahead of polling day on October 23.