One of Nigel Farage’s Reform MPs has received a £6,000 donation from a waste management company executive who served jail time for an employee’s death.
Recent statements from Reform UK’s leader touted the party’s support for working people. However, it has now come to light that Sarah Pochin accepted a financial contribution from a businessman with a criminal history, including a conviction related to an employee fatality. Jonathan Gaskell, the donor, was sentenced to eight months in prison following the tragic incident involving Zbigniew Galka, who was fatally injured while working at Gaskell’s firm.
Gaskell, aged 54, faced previous legal issues, serving time in 2013 for his involvement in a scheme to erase driving license points illegally. Despite Mrs. Pochin’s critical stance on government policies regarding employee rights, she accepted the donation from Gaskell last month.
Following an investigation, Gaskell was found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations leading to Mr. Galka’s death in 2010. His company was also held accountable and fined £700,000, later reduced to £650,000. The tragic incident occurred at Gaskells Waste Services in Liverpool, resulting in Mr. Galka’s untimely death.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Galka lost his life while attempting to fix a waste compression machine, as stated by joint reports from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Merseyside Police. The safety mechanism of the machine had been disabled two months prior, according to the HSE.
Gaskell’s (North West) Ltd, the company involved, was ordered to pay approximately £100,000 in costs for operating the machine unsafely for several years after the fatal incident.
Mrs. Pochin, a vocal advocate for fairness and hard-working individuals, accepted the support from Gaskell in May as indicated by her registered interests. Contrarily, Gaskell had a history of illegal activities, including the payment for the removal of driving license points. This discrepancy raises questions about the association between the two.
Reform’s first female MP, Mrs. Pochin, faced criticism for her remarks on domestic violence during the World Cup. A charity organization, Refuge, condemned her statements, emphasizing that football should not be used as an excuse for abuse.
In another instance, Mrs. Pochin opposed the government’s Employment Rights Act, labeling it as detrimental to job prospects and economic growth. Despite her strong opinions on workers’ rights, her acceptance of donations from individuals with questionable backgrounds has raised concerns.
The donation to Mrs. Pochin’s Parliamentary Office, declared under House of Commons regulations, has sparked controversy. Reform defended the contribution, stating that Gaskell’s past convictions were not relevant to his status as a permissible donor.
When questioned about Mrs. Pochin’s knowledge of Gaskell’s criminal history prior to accepting the donation, the party declined to provide a response.
