Calls for a sweeping investigation into Russian influence over British politics have reached a fever pitch in recent days, as a high-profile petition gathered more than 60,000 signatures—most notably from Wales—and the fallout from the jailing of former Reform UK leader Nathan Gill continues to reverberate across Westminster. The controversy has drawn in top politicians from all major parties, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru demanding action, while Reform UK and its embattled leader, Nigel Farage, push back against accusations of Kremlin sympathies.
The petition, launched by Alexander Proctor, urges a public inquiry into Russian efforts to sway UK democracy, echoing wider concerns about Moscow’s meddling not just in Britain, but also in the United States and Europe. According to Nation.Cymru, the percentage of Welsh signatories is especially high, with Plaid Cymru-held constituencies like Dwyfor Meirioneth and Ceredigion Preseli leading the charge. Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick’s Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency also ranks high in support, while South Wales Valleys areas such as Blaenau Gwent, Rhymney, Torfaen, and Merthyr Tydfil show the lowest concentrations.
The surge in Welsh engagement may be linked to the region’s heightened media coverage of Nathan Gill’s downfall. Gill, who once served as a Member of the Senedd for UKIP and briefly led Reform UK’s Senedd election campaign in 2021, admitted to accepting £40,000 to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament. On November 19, 2025, he was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison—a punishment that, for many, underscored the gravity of the situation.
Reform UK, for its part, has strenuously denied being a pro-Russian party. In a statement to HuffPost UK, a party spokesman condemned Gill’s actions as "reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable," adding, "We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received." But the party’s critics remain unconvinced, especially as the scandal has reignited longstanding questions about Reform UK’s ties to Russia and the adequacy of its internal oversight.
The political storm reached a new level on November 26, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her Budget speech to take a jab at Nigel Farage, comparing the Reform UK leader to a "Russian asset." As HuffPost UK reported, Reeves quipped, "We are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets. But let me be clear, I don’t actually mean the Right Honourable Member for Clacton." The remark drew laughter from MPs and underscored the seriousness with which Labour views the issue.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have both called for an independent, forensic investigation into pro-Russian links within Reform UK. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take action, declaring in the Commons, "Given Reform won’t [launch an investigation], he must. Will he now launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?" Starmer expressed shock at the Gill case and accused Reform UK of being "riddled with pro-Putin propaganda," but stopped short of announcing a formal probe.
Plaid Cymru has been particularly vocal in its demands for accountability. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Plaid’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts challenged Starmer not to let Farage "police his own party," pointing out that the Reform UK leader had already claimed that such oversight was beyond his capabilities. After the session, Saville Roberts told Nation.Cymru, "The Prime Minister seems more interested in political theatre than taking action to hold Reform UK to account. A petition calling for a full investigation into Russian interference has gathered over 60,000 signatures, with Welsh constituencies showing the highest concentration of support. The Prime Minister must stop relying on self-policing and take real action with a full, independent investigation."
Labour Senedd Member Mick Antoniw, who is of Ukrainian heritage and attended Gill’s sentencing at the Old Bailey, emphasized the national security implications. He told Nation.Cymru, "I firmly believe there are important facts to be uncovered about the extent of Nathan Gill and Reform’s connections with Russian interests. It links to Nigel Farage’s interviews with Putin’s TV station Russia Today and extends to links with other politicians Gill was in contact with and tried to recruit. It is a matter of national security for Wales and the UK. Parliament in Westminster needs to act. An inquiry is the way forward. It is encouraging there is high awareness of this in Wales but it is of importance to all the UK."
For his part, Nigel Farage remains defiant. Facing a barrage of questions from journalists on November 26, he dismissed claims that Reform UK is "riddled with pro-Putin propaganda" as "nonsense." Farage argued that he is not in a position to investigate past actions, stating, "Did Ukip have a problem with an MEP who clearly was corrupt? Yes, it did. Did he join Reform very briefly in Wales? He did very briefly. He was leader. I can’t investigate Ukip in the European Parliament in 2018 – how do I do that? Can I read people’s emails? Can I take their mobile phones? How on earth can I investigate that?" He also shifted the conversation to concerns about Chinese influence and other security threats, suggesting that the focus on Russia was politically motivated.
The petition, which will remain open for signatures until May 10, 2026, has already cleared the 10,000-signature threshold that compels a government response. Its rapid growth and the geographic distribution of signatories—especially the high engagement in Wales—reflect a broader public unease about the potential for foreign interference in British democracy. The fact that the UK government has yet to announce a formal inquiry only adds to the tension, as opposition parties and campaigners warn that the integrity of future elections, including the Welsh election next May, could be at stake.
The story has also intersected with other controversies swirling around Farage and Reform UK. In the same week as the Gill sentencing, Farage faced renewed scrutiny over allegations of racism from his school days at Dulwich College. While he apologized if anyone had been hurt by his alleged comments, he denied any direct offensive behavior and insisted his critics simply held "different political views." The Prime Minister, meanwhile, called Farage’s response "unconvincing to say the least" and urged him to apologize more fully.
As the debate rages on, the public and political leaders alike are left grappling with tough questions about transparency, accountability, and the resilience of British democracy. With the petition still gathering steam and pressure mounting from all sides, the question of whether the government will heed the calls for a full-scale investigation remains unresolved. For now, the issue continues to dominate headlines, drawing sharp lines between those demanding action and those pushing back against what they see as political point-scoring.
With Wales at the epicenter of the campaign for answers, and the reputations of political leaders on the line, the coming months are likely to bring even fiercer debate—and perhaps, at last, the inquiry that so many are demanding.
