Former leader of Reform UK in Wales Nathan Gill is set to appear in court following multiple bribery charges, highlighting the entwined nature of law and politics.
Nathan Gill, a notable political figure from North Wales and former leader of Reform UK in Wales, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 24 February, following charges related to alleged bribery. The Metropolitan Police announced that Gill, 51, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery under the Criminal Law Act 1977, as well as eight counts of bribery in accordance with the Bribery Act 2010.
Gill, who previously served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for nearly six years, first entered public office as a UKIP MEP in 2014 before joining the Welsh Parliament, then known as the National Assembly, in 2016. During his tenure, he faced internal disputes with party colleagues, ultimately leading to his removal as group leader, a position that was taken over by Neil Hamilton. Gill subsequently resigned from his role as a North Wales Assembly Member in 2017 to concentrate on Brexit activities.
The investigation leading to Gill’s charges has been led by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. According to their statement, a man had been interviewed under caution regarding bribery allegations back on 3 March 2022. Following comprehensive inquiries and after further authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, charges were laid against Gill.
In a separate incident, Julia Wandel, a 23-year-old woman from Lubin, Poland, who claims to be Madeleine McCann, was arrested at Bristol Airport and is set to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 21 February. Leicestershire Police confirmed that Wandel, who is also known as Julia Wandelt, has been charged with four counts of stalking. The arrest occurred as she was reportedly en route to Cardiff.
The two charges relating to offences are reported to have taken place between 2 May 2024 and 15 February 2025, with additional charges linked to incidents occurring between 3 January and 21 April 2024, and between 27 November and 29 December 2024. A 60-year-old man from Wales, who was arrested alongside Wandel on suspicion of stalking, has since been released on police bail.
These developments draw attention to ongoing legal proceedings involving individuals with notable public profiles, underscoring the intersections of law and political activity as well as personal claims of identity and the implications thereof.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-02-20/former-reform-leader-charged-with-bribery-offences-by-met-police – This article corroborates Nathan Gill’s charges related to bribery, including one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and eight counts of bribery, as well as his upcoming appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
- https://news.sky.com/story/nathan-gill-former-reform-uk-leader-in-wales-charged-with-bribery-after-counter-terror-probe-13313420 – This article supports the details of Nathan Gill’s charges and the investigation led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/23/contents – This URL provides information on the Bribery Act 2010, which is relevant to Nathan Gill’s charges.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/45/section/1 – This URL refers to the Criminal Law Act 1977, under which Nathan Gill is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64512331 – Unfortunately, there is no specific URL found for Julia Wandel’s case. However, this BBC News URL is a placeholder for general news on legal proceedings in the UK.
- https://www.police.uk/pu/about-us/leicestershire-police/ – This URL provides general information about Leicestershire Police, which is involved in Julia Wandel’s case, though it does not specifically address her charges.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes recent events and dates, such as the upcoming court appearance of Nathan Gill on 24 February and Julia Wandel’s arrest. This suggests the content is current and not recycled from older sources.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Post, a regional UK publication. While it is not as widely recognized as national outlets like the BBC or Financial Times, it is still a reputable local source.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Nathan Gill’s charges and Julia Wandel’s arrest are plausible given the context of legal proceedings and the involvement of recognized authorities like the Metropolitan Police and Leicestershire Police.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current and based on plausible legal developments. The lack of direct quotes and the reliance on a local publication do not significantly detract from its overall credibility.
