Nigel Farage has been subjected to sharp ridicule on social media following the release of his New Year's message, with critics highlighting his party's controversial links to Russia.
Social Media Mockery Targets Timing
The Reform UK leader posted a five-minute video message of "hope" on the morning of 31st December 2025. He had teased the clip the night before on X, formerly Twitter, announcing it would be unveiled at 9am.
This prompted a swift and brutal response from Labour MP Jonathan Brash. Quoting Mr Farage's post, Mr Brash questioned whether the stated time referred to British or Russian time zones, writing simply: "GMT or Moscow time?"
The Shadow of Russian Connections
The joke served as a stark reminder of the serious allegations hanging over Reform UK. Last month, the party's former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian lines.
Gill, 52, from Anglesey, North Wales, received at least £40,000 from a former Ukrainian MP described by the US Government as a pawn of Russian security services. His offences took place while he was an MEP for parties previously led by Mr Farage, from 2014 to 2020.
Political Fallout and Wider Scrutiny
The case has triggered significant political repercussions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer used the final Prime Minister's Questions of 2025 to mock the situation, offering Reform festive advice: “If mysterious men from the East appear bearing gifts, this time report it to the police.”
Following Gill's conviction, Mr Starmer ordered a probe into foreign financial interference in British politics, which ministers labelled a "stain on our democracy".
While Mr Farage welcomed a UK-wide investigation, he last month ruled out an internal probe within Reform UK, stating his party is "not a police force".
In his contentious New Year message, Mr Farage criticised the Government, school curricula, and net zero policies, while claiming people are afraid to wear jewellery in public. He positioned Reform as the party "offering hope," urging supporters to join his right-wing outfit.
