David Deans

Gill spoke in the European Parliament in defence of those channels as they came under pressure in Ukraine. It was alleged he was bribed to do that.

He had been stopped in Manchester Airport in 2021. Police were said to find WhatsApp messages between Gill and Voloshyn. Several of the allegations relate to TV channels linked to Viktor Medvedchuk, who is himself reportedly linked to Vladimir Putin.

Nathan Gill appeared in the Old Bailey today to plead guilty to eight charges relating to allegations connected to Oleg Voloshyn, a man who was later described by the US government as a "pawn" of the Russian security services.

Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.

Nathan Gill was at the forefront of the Brexit push in Wales in the mid 2010s. He's now admitted that he spent part of the tail end of his career taking bribes from a pro Russian politician in Ukraine to say things for him in the European parliament, and elsewhere
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Keir Starmer unsure if he'll campaign in Caerphilly by-election Labour is facing a fight to retain the seat in a Senedd by-election next month.

There's a major Welsh by-election happening in Caerphilly next month. The prime minister is unsure if he will campaign in it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fascinating piece

Plaid accused her of scaremongering.

Meanwhile Eluned Morgan said Labour is taking Reform very seriously, and accused it of dividing communities. A baseless smear, says Reform

Labour warns of cuts if it loses Caerphilly Senedd by-election The first minister says her party will find it harder to pass a budget if she loses the by-election.

The campaign has begun

Labour's Eluned Morgan says her party would find it 'tricky' to pass a budget if it lost the Caerphilly election, warning of cuts as a result

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Reform criticised for Caerphilly mailout on day of Labour MS' funeral Reform accused of insensitivity ahead of by-election after mailout received on day of MS' funeral.

More:
www.bbc.com/news/article...

A pallbearer for Hefin David's funeral was among those in Caerphilly constituency who received a mail out from Reform on the day of the service

Date announced for Caerphilly Senedd by-election after death of Hefin David A by-election to fill the seat held by the late Hefin David will be held next month.

More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Senedd by-election on October 23 in Caerphilly, Senedd presiding officer announces

Hefin David, Welsh Labour politician and MS for Caerphilly, dies suddenly Hefin David had been Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerphilly since 2016.

David was friendly with many in Wales' small band of political journalists and, as today's tributes have showed, politicians from across the chamber. It is devastatingly sad, awful news.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

A big part of the ambitious 2016 Senedd intake, Hefin David was keen to make an impact. The Caerphilly MS was an independent voice in the Labour group who banged the drum for the causes he most cared about, autism among them.

The speculation was:
UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican

The reality is:
USA

Wasn't expecting that.

Trump-Putin summit in Alaska next Friday.

A source gets in touch with the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Labour shortlist

Bearing in mind Sarah Murphy is the incumbent

Others:

Helen Mary Payne
Camilla Beaven
Huw John David OBE
Jonathan Simon Cox OBE
Neelo Farr
William Rhys Goode
Carys Stallard

All selection tips and rumours gratefully received

For completeness and because I never put it here, here's the Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf list:

Bernie Bowen-Thomson
Lee Bridgeman
Jen Burke
Dan De'Ath
Matthew Hexter
Jackie Jones
Sarah Merry
Shavanah Taj

The Caerdydd Penarth Labour shortlist in no particular order

Helen Gunter
Huw Thomas
Laura Rochefort
Kanaya Singh
Ruba Sivagnanam
Mutale Merrill
Stephen Brooks
Peter Bradbury

My piece for BBC Wales Today on efforts to raise £40,000 to carry out more work and secure the future of Garth Pier in Bangor.

I should add I have asked Eluned Morgan's office and others around her, for a comment and have not received one.

Did Eluned Morgan step into a Cardiff Labour selection row? The row over Owain Williams selection threatens to reignite divisions in Welsh Labour.

You can read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In the end Williams failed to get through shortlisting – prompting some of the row that has been seen since. I’ve heard from some who have wondered whether the involvement of ministers may have upset the selection panel.

One source said they thought ministers were worried about losing control of the party, while another was annoyed that the first minister had in effect overridden process, and questioned whether other members could do that.

Both sources say that Williams made a long list for the seat anyway after that decision was to be overturned. Both say that had followed Eluned Morgan raising concerns within the party.

Owain Williams apparently breached a party rule because while his party membership was in Cardiff he lives in the Vale. A source has claimed they felt the finding was motivated by Owain Williams’ closeness to Jeremy Miles – something denied by someone aware of what went on.

Before the row came into the open over the Labour Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf selection I heard of rumours that ministers were involved in a row over whether a candidate was ruled out of order

Sources have since told me that the first minister had stepped in on that candidate's behalf

FM 'big fan' of selection row Labour member Owain Williams Eluned Morgan backs a high-profile Welsh Labour member who failed to win Senedd election selection.

Eluned Morgan has publicly backed Owain Williams, a Labour member at the centre of a selection row in Cardiff www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The FM has put her name to the statement on Gaza issued by a spox earlier

“Plaid Cymru calls for immediate recognition of Palestine, alongside the release of all hostages, a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza, and genuine progress towards lasting peace.”