Keir Starmer has humorously referenced Reform UK in a Christmas jest by poking fun at the party’s former leader in Wales for allegedly accepting Russian bribes.
During his last Prime Minister’s Questions of 2025, Starmer extended Christmas wishes to MPs, parliamentary staff, and their families in Westminster before addressing Nigel Farage’s party. In a spirited moment in the Commons, Starmer advised members of Reform, saying, “A little festive tip for those in Reform. If mysterious individuals from the East come bearing gifts, make sure to report it to the authorities this time.”
The House of Commons erupted in laughter, with Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice energetically reacting. Meanwhile, Farage, visibly displeased about his limited speaking time during PMQs, was observed shaking his head warily from the public gallery.
The joke followed the recent sentencing of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform in Wales, to a 10-and-a-half-year prison term for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russia narratives in interviews and speeches at the European Parliament. Gill, who previously served as an MEP for UKIP and the Brexit Party under Farage’s leadership, received at least £40,000 from Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian MP linked to Russian intelligence services.
In response to Gill’s conviction, Starmer initiated an investigation into foreign financial interference in British politics, labeling the case as a “blemish on our democracy.” Communities Secretary Steve Reed outlined plans for an independent inquiry to address the issue.
Reed addressed Parliament, condemning Gill’s actions by stating, “An elected official accepted bribes to echo the propaganda of a hostile nation responsible for the death of a British citizen on UK soil.” He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, highlighting Gill’s alignment with forces invading Ukraine and the need to rectify such misconduct through the independent review.
While Farage dismissed the need for probing Russian influences within his party, expressing that Reform is not a policing entity, he welcomed the idea of a nationwide investigation, acknowledging the prevailing doubts on all fronts. Farage endorsed the proposed UK-wide probe, affirming its necessity given the current uncertainties surrounding political influences.
