A former political associate of Nigel Farage, who had ties to UKIP and the Brexit Party, has denied allegations of accepting Russian bribes following the surfacing of incriminating WhatsApp messages.
David Coburn, a former leader of UKIP in Scotland, was implicated in conversations involving Nathan Gill and Oleg Voloshyn, who has been linked to Russian security services. Gill recently confessed to receiving funds for delivering prepared speeches and TV appearances, resulting in a prison sentence of over ten years.
During a confrontation with a BBC reporter outside his residence in rural France, Coburn flatly denied any involvement in illicit payments. Notably, WhatsApp exchanges disclosed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) mentioned a “David” receiving a $6,500 payment, with Voloshyn inquiring about the transaction. Gill, in response, confirmed the amount and further discussions referenced additional payments related to Coburn.
In a separate message, Voloshyn requested the involvement of Coburn and Gill in certain activities while they were members of the Brexit Party under Farage’s leadership. The CPS indicated that the discussions in April centered around attending a meeting with pro-Russia TV channels, where Coburn was the identified individual referred to as “David.”
Coburn, who led UKIP in Scotland from 2014 to 2018 before joining the Brexit Party in 2019, distanced himself from any wrongdoing. The messages came to light in 2021 when Gill was intercepted by counter-terror police while attempting to travel to Russia. The source of the funds offered to Gill and Coburn was revealed to be Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Putin Ukrainian figure accused of high treason and subsequently exchanged to Russia in 2022.
Following these revelations, the Metropolitan Police initiated an investigation to determine if Gill had accomplices in the bribery scheme. Commander Dominic Murphy of the Counter Terrorism Command emphasized the ongoing nature of the probe and the involvement of other individuals in the process.
Farage has faced pressure to address concerns of Russian influence within his party but has declined to launch an internal investigation, citing limitations in accessing private communications. A spokesperson for Reform UK, the party Gill later led, expressed condemnation for any wrongdoing by Coburn and Gill, welcoming Gill’s sentencing for his actions.
