**Eluned Morgan Delivers Scathing Critique of Reform UK Amid Election Fears**
Cardiff, Wales – With just a year remaining before Wales returns to the polls for the next Senedd elections, First Minister Eluned Morgan has launched a fierce attack on Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, labelling it “cynical, dishonest and dangerous.” In a speech delivered in Cardiff at the Norwegian Church, Morgan outlined her concerns about the political headwinds facing Welsh Labour and warned of the potential consequences if Reform UK were to gain a foothold in government.
The context of her remarks is crucial: recent polling indicates that Labour, the longstanding party of government in Wales, could face stiff competition from both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in the 2026 election. The next election will also see significant changes, including new constituency boundaries, an expanded Senedd with 96 members, and a revised voting system. These changes, Morgan argues, only add to the unpredictability of the coming contest.
Morgan’s remarks were notably direct, in part, she said, because of the outcome of the recent council elections in England, which witnessed strong Reform UK performances at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives. She admitted the warning signals from England had prompted her to make her speech “more forthright,” as she sought to prepare her party faithful for potentially turbulent times ahead.
Central to her critique was the assertion that Reform UK offers little in the way of real solutions for Wales. “Reform is no joke,” Morgan stated, “they’re loud and showy, they provide an easy story because they’re new and disruptive, but they only sow and reap grievance. They offer simplistic answers without substance, and if you scratch the surface, you find a party with no answers for Welsh problems, no plan for our communities, and no respect for devolution.”
She further cautioned that, despite their populist appeal, Reform UK’s actual policy record – and especially that of their leader, Nigel Farage – should give voters pause. Morgan highlighted Farage’s controversial admiration for figures like Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, warning of the risk of radical policies such as dismantling the NHS or privatising public services. She recounted the fate of the UK Independence Party in the Senedd, noting that their 2016 victory quickly collapsed under the pressures of serious governance.
Morgan did not hold back as she accused Reform UK of using immigration rhetoric to stoke fear for political gain. “They call immigration the enemy, while ignoring the reality that our health and care system would collapse without migrant workers. They are playing a dangerous game with the very worst lessons of the Trump playbook: fear, fury and false promises,” she declared.
Beyond attacking Reform UK, Morgan also appealed directly to supporters of Plaid Cymru, warning that a divided left could unintentionally usher in a right-wing government. “If you share our values and you’re tempted by Plaid, ask yourselves: is the prospect of Reform UK slipping through the back door a risk you’re willing to take?” she asked, making it clear she saw Plaid votes as potentially helping the rise of the Farage-led party.
Morgan claimed that Welsh Labour would be the only party capable of answering the “demand for change” at the next election, emphasising her party’s 26-year record in government and promising to continue delivering for ordinary people. She directly addressed Reform-curious voters, inviting them to “come home to the party that built the NHS and stands by local councils, carers, health workers, teachers and the working people of Wales.”
In response, a spokesperson for Reform UK accused Welsh Labour of prioritising slogans over solutions. “While the First Minister talks of a ‘red Welsh way’, Labour has had decades in power and failed to deliver meaningful change,” the spokesman claimed, arguing that both Labour and the Conservatives had presided over stagnation and “missed opportunities,” while Plaid Cymru offered “noise without direction.”
The party insisted Reform UK presents the only true alternative for the Welsh public. “Communities across Wales continue to be overlooked. Reform UK offers a clear alternative to the status quo. It’s time for a government that works for the people, not the political elites,” the statement read.
The debate takes place against a sobering backdrop for Labour, with some polling suggesting they could be on track for their poorest election result since devolution. With Wales preparing for a new voting system and key political realignments, the 2026 Senedd election already appears set to be one of the most consequential in modern Welsh history.
As political leaders jostle for position, the overriding message remains clear: Welsh voters will soon face critical choices that could determine the future direction of their nation for years to come. Whether Morgan’s robust attack will galvanise support for Labour or play into the hands of insurgent parties, only time will tell.