Reform UK Gains Momentum in Wales,Threatening Labor Stronghold & Raising Questions for Keir โStarmer
caerphilly,Wales – A recent โฃsurge in โsupport โขfor Reform UK is sending shockwavesโ through Welsh โpolitics,possibly setting the stage for a significant upset in May’s elections for the Senedd (Welsh Parliament),councils across England,and other key contests. The party is currently leading in a crucial by-election in Caerphilly, a traditionally Labour-heldโ constituency, raising concerns for Labour leader Keir Starmer.
A Survation pollโ places Reform โUK at โฃ42% support in Caerphilly, surpassing Plaidโ Cymruโฃ at โ38% and Labour at a diminished 12%. Candidate Llลทr Powell, 30, expressedโฃ ambitiousโข goals โfor the party, stating, “Our โขgoal is to take โขcontrol of the Welsh Government – not โขjust win the largest number of seats.And we want to use those levers of power to โmake the lives of the people of Wales better.”
Powellโข highlighted a โคshift โขin voter sentiment, noting that support is no longer simply a protest vote against Labour, but a genuine embrace of Reform UK’s platform. “I think Reform is now the major party in Wales,” he asserted.
The potential for aโข Reform UK breakthrough isโ causing alarm within Welsh Labour. A senior party figure described the situation as a “****storm,” acknowledging the challenges of appearing as aโ radical force after 15 years in power at โWestminster and 26 years governingโ the Welshโ Senedd. Theโ source criticized the Welsh Parliament’s focus on โฃ”constitutional reform,” arguing that coreโฃ services like “education, health, and transport”โ wereโ neglected in favor โof a “power-grab.”
Powell โis actively appealing toโค voters who have become disillusioned withโ Labour, emphasizing the importance of actually casting a ballot. “It’s actually getting out there and votingโข onโ the day that matters,” he urged. He envisionsโ Wales becoming the first “common sense” nation underโ a Reform UK government, prioritizing winning the next Senedd elections above all else.
reform UK alreadyโฃ holds one seat in theโ Senedd,with Laura anne Jones having previously defected from the Conservative Party. A victory in Caerphilly wouldโ be a landmark achievement,signaling โthe party’s ability to challenge Labour’s โcentury-long dominance in Wales.
While Powell declined to speculate about โขbecoming First Minister, โhe stressed the importance of building a strong team, โstating, “One person can’t โคfixโ Wales; it’s going toโค be โa cabinet that we have to collect together.” He โขalso noted the positive reception to party figurehead Nigel Farage onโ the campaign trail,praising his authenticity:โค “Even if they don’t โฃagree with โsomethingโข he’s saying,they โbelieve that he believes itโฆ That’s what other politicians don’t โฃhave.”
This by-election is being viewed by Reform UK as aโ key test of itsโฃ improved campaigning capabilities, and a potential springboard for widerโ electoral โคsuccess in May. The resultsโค will undoubtedly be closely watched โฃby both โLabour and the wider politicalโข landscape.