Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been subjected to sharp mockery on social media following the release of his New Year's video message, with the criticism focusing on his party's alleged connections to Russia.
Labour MP's Brutal Timing Joke
The controversy began when Mr Farage posted on X, formerly Twitter, on New Year's Eve, teasing that his message of "hope" would be unveiled at 9am on 31 December. In response, Labour MP Jonathan Brash quoted the post with a pointed four-word question: "GMT or Moscow time?"
This sarcastic remark was a direct reference to the ongoing scandal surrounding Reform UK's former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, who was recently jailed for accepting Russian bribes.
Farage's Rambling New Year Address
In his five-minute video message, Mr Farage launched a broadside against the current Government, criticising what he described as schoolchildren being taught to be "ashamed of the past" and "fanatical net zero policies". He made unsubstantiated claims about people being afraid to wear jewellery in public and suggested individuals "may well get a knock at the door" for posting rude content on Facebook.
He positioned Reform UK as the party "offering hope" and urged viewers to join his right-wing movement.
The Shadow of Russian Bribery
Mr Brash's joke served as a stark reminder of the serious legal troubles plaguing Reform UK. Last month, Nathan Gill was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for accepting at least £40,000 in bribes to promote pro-Russian lines in interviews and speeches during his time as an MEP.
Gill, 52, from Anglesey, North Wales, was paid by former Ukrainian MP Oleg Voloshyn, whom the US government described as a "pawn" of Russian security services. Gill had served as an MEP for Ukip and the Brexit Party—both previously led by Mr Farage—from 2014 to 2020, before becoming Reform's Welsh leader in 2021.
Political Fallout and Broader Probe
The issue has reached the highest levels of British politics. At the final Prime Minister's Questions of 2025, Sir Keir Starmer mockingly advised Reform: “If mysterious men from the East appear bearing gifts, this time report it to the police.” The comment provoked laughter in the Commons, including from Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice.
Following Gill's conviction, the Prime Minister ordered a probe into foreign financial interference in British politics, with ministers calling the case a "stain on our democracy".
While Mr Farage last month ruled out an internal investigation into Russian influences within Reform UK, stating the party is "not a police force", he expressed support for a UK-wide independent probe, saying it "would be a good thing to do".
