Ex-UKIP ally of Nigel Farage denies taking Russian bribes after being named in WhatsApps
Former MEP David Coburn, who was UKIP’s leader in Scotland before joining the Brexit Party, denied taking Russian bribes after his name appeared in WhatsApp messages to traitor Nathan Gill
A former UKIP and Brexit Party ally of Nigel Farage has denied taking Russian bribes after being named in a string of WhatsApps.
David Coburn, previously Scotland’s UKIP leader, was identified in messages between disgraced Nathan Gill and Oleg Voloshyn, who has been described as a “pawn” of Vladimir Putin’s security services. Gill was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years behind bars last week after admitting taking at least £40,000 to make scripted speeches and TV interviews.
Coburn, who served as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) alongside Gill, simply answered “no” when he was asked by a BBC journalist if he had taken illegal payments. During the confrontation outside his home in rural France, he stalled his car while attempting to drive away.
READ MORE: France to start intercepting small boats as Keir Starmer plea to Macron leakedREAD MORE: Net migration drops by two thirds in a year in boost to Keir Starmer
WhatsApp messages released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) show repeated references to a “David” and a payment of $6,500 to an MEP identified as “D”. In April 2019, Voloshyn wrote in a message to Gill: “I’m seeing D. in the morning. How much was for him”.
Gill, who later admitted eight counts of bribery at the Old Bailey, responded: “6.5USD” – around £5,000. In a further message the same day, pro-Russian Ukrainian politican Voloshyn referenced “other 2 for David you already have with you” while discussing payments.
In July 2019, Voloshyn wrote: “Get Arne please and Coburn as well.” At the time both Gill and Coburn were members of the Brexit Party, led by Mr Farage.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says the April conversation was about joining a meeting of the editorial board of pro-Russia TV channels 112 Ukraine and NewsOne. Coburn was the only David publicly named on the board, the BBC reports.
He was UKIP’s Scotland leader from 2014 to 2018, and he joined the Brexit Party in 2019. Gill also represented both parties in the European Parliament before becoming Reform UK’s leader in Wales.
The messages were uncovered in 2021 when counter-terror police intercepted Gill, 52, as he attempted to fly to Russia. The source of the money offered to Gill and the other politician was Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Putin Ukrainian oligarch who was accused of high treason.
He was removed to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange in 2022 having been under arrest. A Met Police probe is ongoing to find out if Gill had accomplices.
Last week Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: “I won’t be talking about any other individuals today, but what I can say very clearly, is that there’s an ongoing investigation and we have spoken to some other people that are mentioned within that process.
“This is Nathan Gill reaching out to individuals that he knows, who are Brits, who might be willing to be paid to go and make speeches. I think this was literally Nathan Gill picking individuals that he sat and worked alongside in the European Parliament.”
Mr Farage has faced calls to launch an investigation to find out if Russia is exerting an influence in his party, but has repeatedly refused. He said earlier this week: “I haven’t got a police force. I haven’t got access.
“I can’t access your phone messages. I can’t access your emails. Unless I can do that, I can’t investigate.” He added: “I would point out to you that this is an embarrassment for UKIP.
“It’s a very minor embarrassment for Reform.” He then suggested it “wouldn’t be a bad thing” for MI5 to look into it.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “David Coburn was deselected for the 2019 European Election campaign by the Brexit Party and has had no involvement with Reform UK, if any wrongdoing is found to have been done by Mr Coburn then we of course condemn it and he should face the full force of the law.
“Mr Gill’s actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.”
