In a dramatic twist following the Caerphilly by-election, Reform UK’s campaign office was hit by vandals after the party’s defeat. The shutters were painted with the phrase, “Now u can f*** off home,” marking a stark reminder of their second-place finish. While Plaid Cymru claimed victory with 47% of the vote, Reform’s candidate Llyr Powell secured 36%, pushing the incumbent Welsh Labour into third with a meagre 11%.
Reform had hoped for a big win, investing significant resources and time, with Nigel Farage himself making several appearances. Farage noted that Labour’s significant vote loss to Plaid was unexpected, yet it bolstered Plaid’s candidate, Lindsay Whittle, to success. Plaid’s leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, hailed the win as a signal for change, stating, “Wales is ready for new leadership.”
Despite the loss, Powell remains optimistic about Reform’s future, while Farage is already eyeing the next Senedd election. He reflected, “We reached our target vote, but it wasn’t enough this time. The coming Senedd elections will be a two-horse race between Reform UK and Plaid Cymru.”
With such a political shake-up, all eyes will be on Wales to see how these dynamics play out in future elections. Stay tuned!