**Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan Urges Voters to Reject Nigel Farage and Reform UK Ahead of Senedd Election**
Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan has issued a stark warning to voters, cautioning against casting their ballots for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party in the forthcoming Senedd elections. In a passionate speech, Morgan highlighted what she describes as the real and tangible dangers posed by Reform UK, seeking to dissuade the electorate from embracing the party’s policies.
Addressing supporters and the media at the 2025 Welsh Labour Party conference, Morgan outlined three primary reasons she believes a vote for Reform UK would be harmful for Wales. Foremost among her concerns is the future of the NHS. Morgan claimed that Reform UK harbours intentions to privatise the health service, putting at risk the free prescriptions that people in Wales have come to rely upon. She pointed to Farage’s previous advocacy for an insurance-based healthcare system, warning that such a model could leave those unable to afford it without access to basic medical care.
The First Minister expanded on these concerns in a subsequent conversation with WalesOnline, reinforcing the point that the potential threat to the NHS is not hypothetical but immediate. “The danger from Reform is real,” she insisted. “People understand today that they can visit their local pharmacy and get their prescriptions for free — that entitlement could end if Reform come to power.” She also raised fears about an erosion of workers’ rights and significant job losses, especially within the Welsh public sector, which currently employs around 300,000 people.
Morgan didn’t mince words when addressing Farage’s economic promises, particularly regarding the steel industry. She labelled as “fantasy” his pledge to reopen blast furnaces at Tata’s Port Talbot plant — an emblematic issue in South Wales. In her conference speech, she accused Farage of offering grandiose plans with little grounding in reality, saying, “While Nigel Farage is in Port Talbot talking about reopening blast furnaces and sending people’s grandchildren down coal mines, we’re dealing with the scars and aftermath of decades of industrial decline.” She stressed that Welsh Labour is focused not on idealising the past but on healing and rebuilding Wales’ industrial communities for the future.
In further remarks, Morgan described Reform UK as “a force of division,” and argued that their policies represent a “wrecking ball” poised to disrupt public services and community cohesion. She contrasted them with other parties: “With Plaid Cymru, you get risk. With the Tories, you get ruin. With Reform, you get a wrecking ball. We cannot — and we will not — let that happen. Not on our watch. Not in our Wales.”
Morgan also criticised what she described as Reform UK’s shallow interest in the future and in Wales itself. She highlighted Welsh Labour’s ambition to make Wales “match-fit” for the digital age, particularly the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI), stating, “Wales was at the heart of powering the Industrial Revolution and now we want to lead the AI revolution as well — we’re looking forward, not backward.”
On the topic of campaigning and criticism, Morgan dismissed concerns that attention given to Reform UK might inadvertently glamourise the party, which currently holds no seats in the Senedd. “There is nothing glamorous about Reform,” she told reporters. “They are a real danger, and it is vital that people in our communities understand what is at stake.” She warned of the risk to public services and investment in Wales should Reform UK gain power, stating they have “no experience of governing” and their inexperience could have dire consequences.
Morgan’s sentiments echo those of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who has likewise criticised Farage and Reform UK in recent days. The Welsh Labour leader’s comments demonstrate a clear intent to frame the upcoming election as a pivotal moment for the future of the nation’s public services and the fabric of Welsh society.
As the Senedd election approaches, the stark lines being drawn between parties suggest a campaign dominated by debates around public services, industry, and Wales’ future direction — with Reform UK’s policies emerging as a significant focal point for criticism from both the Welsh and UK-wide Labour movements.