REFORM UK’s former Wales leader Nathan Gill was jailed for 10-and-a-half years today after being paid £40,000 to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament in a “grave betrayal” of the British public.

The 52-year-old pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019 when he was a Ukip member of the European Parliament.

Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb said: “Parliamentarians wield significant influence over public and political discourse.

“It is incumbent upon them to speak with honesty and conviction, irrespective of whether their views are met with approval or dissent.

“When you say what someone has paid you to say, you are not speaking with sincerity. If it were your genuine opinion, you would not need to be paid for saying it.”

Mr Gill’s activities included making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.

The architect of the bribes was Oleg Voloshyn, 44, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian MP, who with his wife was connected to 112 Ukraine.

The television channel was owned by wealthy pro-Russian Ukrainian Victor Medvedchuk, 71, who was a close ally of Vladimir Putin and the ultimate source of requests and money that Mr Gill received.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said Mr Gill’s crimes had been exposed after he was stopped at Manchester airport on September 13 2021 as he attempted to travel to Russia. He gave no comment at police interview.

Mr Gill led Reform UK’s 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.

Reform UK said: “Mr Gill’s actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable.”