During his last Prime Minister’s Questions session of 2025, Keir Starmer made a humorous Christmas remark aimed at Reform UK, teasing the party’s former leader in Wales for allegedly accepting Russian bribes. Starmer first extended holiday wishes to MPs, parliamentary staff, and their families in Westminster before addressing Nigel Farage’s party.
In a spirited moment in the House of Commons, Starmer quipped, “A little festive advice to those in Reform. If mysterious men from the East show up bearing gifts, make sure to report it to the police this time.” Laughter erupted among MPs, with Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice reacting animatedly. Meanwhile, Farage, visibly displeased about his speaking time during PMQs, sat in the public gallery shaking his head warily.
The joke came in light of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform in Wales, receiving a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence for reportedly accepting bribes to promote pro-Russia narratives in interviews and speeches in the European Parliament. Gill, who previously served as an MEP for UKIP and the Brexit Party under Nigel Farage’s leadership, later led Reform in Wales but resigned after failing to secure a seat in the 2021 Senedd election.
The scandal prompted Keir Starmer to launch an investigation into foreign financial interference in British politics. Communities Secretary Steve Reed condemned the case as a “blemish on our democracy” and outlined plans for an impartial inquiry.
Steve Reed addressed fellow MPs, stating, “An elected official accepted bribes to echo the propaganda of a hostile nation linked to the death of Dawn Sturgess on British soil. He sided with those involved in invading a sovereign European state, all while Putin’s military targeted civilians in Ukraine.” Reed emphasized the need for the independent review to address this misconduct.
While Nigel Farage dismissed concerns about Russian influence in his party, stating that Reform is not an investigative authority, he supported the idea of a nationwide inquiry. Farage acknowledged the prevailing doubts on all fronts and deemed a comprehensive probe necessary.
Overall, the unfolding events surrounding Gill’s conviction have sparked significant scrutiny and calls for transparency within the political landscape.