By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) -A British former member of the European parliament and ex-leader of the populist Reform UK in Wales was jailed for more than 10 years on Friday after admitting taking about 40,000 pounds ($52,344) in bribes to make pro-Russian speeches and statements.

Nathan Gill had pleaded guilty in September to eight counts of bribery relating to payments he had received between December 2018 and July 2019 from pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians.

Reform, currently well ahead in opinion polls, said his actions were “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable”. The governing Labour Party called for Reform’s leader, veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, to carry out an investigation to ensure it had no pro-Russian links.

SCRIPTED PRO-RUSSIAN PUBLIC STATEMENTS

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