A former ally of Nigel Farage from UKIP and Brexit Party, David Coburn, has refuted allegations of receiving Russian bribes following his association with WhatsApp messages. Coburn, who previously led UKIP in Scotland, was mentioned in communications between Nathan Gill and Oleg Voloshyn, characterized as a tool of Vladimir Putin’s security apparatus. Gill confessed to accepting over £40,000 for scripted speeches and TV appearances, leading to a ten-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
When questioned by a BBC journalist about illicit payments, Coburn, a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) alongside Gill, simply responded with a “no” and attempted to drive away from his residence in rural France. WhatsApp messages disclosed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) indicate discussions about payments to an MEP identified as “D”, referred to as “David”. Voloshyn’s messages to Gill mentioned monetary transactions, including a $6,500 payment to “D”.
In one message, Voloshyn inquired about the payment for “D”, to which Gill responded with the amount. The messages also referenced additional payments for David, seemingly indicating Coburn. Both Coburn and Gill were part of the Brexit Party when Voloshyn urged Gill to contact them. The CPS clarified that the April conversation revolved around attending a meeting of pro-Russia TV channels, where Coburn was the only publicly known David on the editorial board.
Coburn led UKIP in Scotland from 2014 to 2018 before joining the Brexit Party in 2019. Gill, who represented both parties in the European Parliament, later became the leader of Reform UK in Wales. The intercepted messages in 2021 led to Gill’s detention while trying to travel to Russia, with the funds originating from Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Putin Ukrainian oligarch accused of high treason.
Following his extradition to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange in 2022, the Metropolitan Police initiated an investigation to identify potential accomplices of Gill. The head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command highlighted ongoing inquiries involving other individuals linked to Gill’s actions.
Farage has faced calls to probe potential Russian influence in his party but has declined, suggesting a lack of investigative resources. A Reform UK spokesperson stated that Coburn had no association with their party since being deselected in 2019, condemning any proven misconduct. Gill’s actions were denounced as treacherous, and justice was welcomed for his sentencing.