**Nigel Farage’s Pledge to Revive Welsh Mines and Steelworks Met With Scepticism**
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, travelled to Port Talbot this week to unveil a series of policy proposals, most notably his commitment to revitalising traditional industries in Wales. Farage’s ambitious plans include reopening the Port Talbot steelworks, reinstating coal mining across the Welsh Valleys, and abolishing the 20mph default speed limit on local roads. While the announcements have generated debate, reactions remain mixed, with many questioning the practicality and relevance of these ideas in contemporary Wales.
During a press briefing in the steel town, Farage acknowledged that reigniting the Port Talbot blast furnaces would come with a hefty price tag—potentially running into the ‘low billions’. Such a move, he conceded, would require significant backing from the UK Government. Currently, Tata Steel retains ownership of the local steelworks, but the traditional blast furnaces were closed in 2024 amid a shift towards electric arc furnace technology. This transition, aimed at recycling rather than raw steel production, has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs, raising concerns about economic prospects in the area.
Farage has positioned his proposals as a response to local frustration over job losses and economic decline. He argued that, given appropriate pay, people would willingly return to working in coal mines—a sentiment echoing a nostalgia for the industrial heritage that once defined South Wales. Reform UK has also asserted its intention to prioritise Welsh residents for housing and to resist the use of local properties for asylum seeker accommodation, promising to halt funding to the Welsh Refugee Council and to reverse the Welsh Government’s “Nation of Sanctuary” policy.
Opinion polls suggest these populist messages appear to be resonating with a portion of the electorate. A recent YouGov/Barn Cymru survey places Reform UK as a strong contender ahead of the May 2026 Senedd elections, with projected support at 25%. This would make Reform the second most popular party in Wales after Plaid Cymru, surpassing Labour’s figures and potentially securing Reform its first seats in the devolved parliament.
However, commentators and Wales Online readers are openly questioning both the feasibility of these pledges and Farage’s motivations. On social media, one user expressed disbelief at the scale of investment required, casting doubt on where funding would come from and whether there would be sufficient interest in returning to mining. Others pointed to Farage’s prominent support for Brexit, criticising what they perceive as unfulfilled promises and suggesting that communities in Wales have not benefited as expected.
Some contributors, meanwhile, are open to the notion of reviving local industry, arguing that steelmaking and mining have historically provided stable livelihoods across the Valleys. They argue that such jobs are essential to maintaining close-knit communities and point to increasing global tensions as a reason to boost self-sufficiency in crucial sectors like steel production. Conversely, critics see the proposals as a “backward-looking vision”, warning that a return to heavy industry risks repeating the health and environmental issues of the past rather than investing in modern, sustainable alternatives for Wales’ workforce.
Others observed that Farage’s platform might be gaining traction more due to dissatisfaction with Labour and Plaid Cymru rather than an actual desire to return to the industries of old. Calls to “clean up wasteful spending”, reduce management layers, and improve the efficiency of public services appealed to some, though scepticism remains about Reform UK’s ability to deliver such sweeping reforms if it enters government.
Supporters of Farage’s industrial revival argue that skills related to steelmaking, welding, and industrial trades remain essential for economic growth. They maintain that nurturing these abilities domestically would reduce reliance on imports and create high-quality employment in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Detractors, however, see the proposals as catering only to a vocal minority, lacking a coherent strategy for integrating valuable skills within a modern, diversified Welsh economy.
For now, Farage’s policy announcements have succeeded in reigniting debate about Wales’ economic future. As the May 2026 Senedd elections approach, both supporters and sceptics will be watching closely to see whether calls for a return to the industries of the past will translate into new political momentum—or if the electorate will ultimately chart a different path for the nation’s future.