🎉 Drama unfolds in Reform UK as social media vetting heats up! 🎉 Reform UK’s councillor Jason O’Connell spills the tea on some “brutal” vetting processes that have cost the party some top-notch people. With the upcoming Welsh Senedd election in May, the party’s been busy checking social media histories of potential candidates but haven’t yet revealed who’s made the cut—or who’s going to be leading them in Wales! 🇬🇧
Nigel Farage, the party’s UK leader, recently admitted that previous vetting attempts were rocky but promises better this time. O’Connell, from Torfaen Council, claims the vetting process is not just thorough but downright “intrusive”, diving deep into decades-old social media posts. 📲
“We’ve turned away truly good people on the chance they might’ve made an off-the-cuff comment years ago,” O’Connell remarked. “Digital is forever,” he adds.
ICYMI, past incidents in 2024 saw 12 Reform UK candidates stepping back from the general election due to resurfaced prior comments. As election season closes in, much anticipation surrounds who will emerge as the party’s Welsh leader, with O’Connell himself being speculated as a frontrunner. 🗳️
Talking to BBC, O’Connell admitted he feels “flattered” by the leadership whispers but hasn’t had any official discussions yet. He hinted that the party is getting ready to announce the new Welsh figurehead “very shortly indeed”.
Stay tuned, folks, as the political waves keep rolling in! 🌊 Politics on social media sure is a wild ride! #Politics #SocialMediaVetting #ReformUK #WelshSeneddElections