A member of Nigel Farage’s Reform group received a £6,000 donation from a waste management company leader with a criminal past related to an employee’s death. Sarah Pochin, a prominent figure in Reform UK, took the contribution from Jonathan Gaskell, who had served jail time for his involvement in a fatal incident at his company in 2010.
Gaskell, who had a history of legal issues, was convicted in 2018 following the death of Zbigniew Galka, an employee crushed while performing work duties. Additionally, in 2013, Gaskell faced imprisonment for a scheme involving the removal of driving license points through illicit payments. Despite these controversies, Pochin, known for her opposition to enhanced worker protections, accepted the donation from him recently.
Investigations revealed that Gaskell’s company, Gaskell’s (North West) Ltd, was found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations, resulting in a substantial fine. The tragic incident occurred when Mr. Galka, a Polish national, suffered fatal injuries while operating a waste compression machine at the company’s premises in Liverpool. The investigation disclosed that the safety mechanism of the machine had been disabled, contributing to the fatal accident.
Pochin’s acceptance of the donation from Gaskell sparked criticism, especially considering his criminal background. The donation, listed in Pochin’s financial disclosures, was earmarked for supporting her parliamentary activities. Amid controversies, Pochin faced backlash for her remarks linking domestic violence to football outcomes during the World Cup, drawing sharp criticism from advocacy groups like Refuge.
Reform defended the donation, stating that it complied with parliamentary regulations and aimed to support Pochin’s role as a local MP. While Gaskell’s past convictions were acknowledged, they were deemed irrelevant to his current status as a permissible donor. When questioned about Pochin’s awareness of Gaskell’s criminal past prior to receiving the donation, Reform declined to provide a response.
