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Three former MPs are stepping up their claim that the UK Government is failing in its duty to protect elections from foreign interference, in a new case lodged today with the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

The legal challenge from former MPs Caroline Lucas, Ben Bradshaw and Alyn Smith calls for "clear, positive duties to investigate and safeguard foreign influence".

In a statement on the court appeal, non-profit group The Citizens notes the recent conviction of former Wales Reform leader Nathan Gill.

In September, Gill pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery following a Met Counter Terrorism Command investigation into payments for pro-Russia statements when he was a member of the European Parliament. Reform insiders told Byline Times it is 'inconceivable' that Reform leader Nigel Farage did not know about his close aide's pro-Russian statements.

Last week, Byline Times and The Nerve revealed that in 2021, after leaving Reform, Gill was preparing to give a presentation about the potential role of cryptocurrencies in political funding, for his Russian sponsors.

The appeal to the European Court of Human Rights points out that electoral interference from hostile states threatens member nations as we speak.

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'Thick as Thieves': Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage's Putin Problem

Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage's closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin's strategic plan to crush Ukrainian independence with 'Moscow's Man in Ukraine'

Peter Jukes

Interference across Europe

The filing from Caroline Lucas and others states: "There is credible evidence that the Russian Federation interfered in Moldova's elections of 28 September 2025. Alleged Russian interference prompted Romania's Constitutional Court to annul the first round of its presidential election in December 2024, undermining public confidence in democracy and the rule of law."

And it points out that the European Union (separate to the ECHR) has identified that the Russian Federation "has engaged in a systematic, international campaign of media manipulation and distortion of facts…especially during election periods."

It also comes amid allegations of Brits spying for China, with the Prime Minister confirming his intent to publish witness statements from the recent collapsed espionage case (the two individuals deny lawbreaking).

The Grand Chamber is the equivalent of the ECHR's 'Supreme Court' and only hears cases of 'exceptional importance or complexity' and the claim is the final stage of a five-year legal battle that was first launched in 2020.

The Citizens and the MPs are represented by law firm Leigh Day. In 2020, the crowdfunded case was the first time a group of sitting MPs had sued the Government over matters of national security.

Even though all three MPs have now left parliament, they have persevered with the claim and are now appealing to Europe's top human rights court.

The claims asks the court to confirm "a clear, enforceable duty on the UK to investigate credible foreign interference in elections and to adopt proactive safeguards," under Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the European convention on Human Rights - the right to free and fair elections.

The group first challenged the Government in the UK High Court after parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee published the Russia Report citing "credible evidence" of Russian interference. Following that report, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused the demands of MPs on the committee to launch an inquiry.

Among those who provided evidence and urged action was Lord Peter Ricketts, the UK's first ever national security advisor. He said he was "very surprised" the Government had not sought evidence over Russi...