Nigel Farage has kept quiet following Reform UK’s recent by-election loss in Caerphilly, where Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle triumphed with a 3,000-vote majority. Despite the setback, all is not doom and gloom for Reform. Candidate Llyr Powell, who secured over 12,000 votes, expressed some disappointment but highlighted that this was still a “massive gain” for the party, as they successfully shifted many Labour voters. This marks a historic loss for Labour, which hadn’t been defeated in the area for over 100 years. Reform UK’s chairman, David Bull, chimed in on BBC Breakfast, expressing a mix of disappointment and excitement at the party’s rapid rise. “From 1.7% at the last election to 36% now is quite a leap,” Bull remarked, envisioning an even stronger performance in the upcoming Senedd elections next May. His sentiment was echoed by Zia Yusuf, the party’s head of policy, who labelled the result as a “historic realignment” in Welsh and British politics. He praised Llyr Powell’s hard work and forecasted his success in the Senedd next year. While Reform UK may have missed victory, the results indicate a potential shakeup in the political landscape, with Labour’s vote plummeting to just 11% and the Conservatives down to a mere 2%. Despite the loss, the upbeat mood among Reform’s leaders suggests they’re gearing up for a fierce contest come the Senedd elections. Keep watching this space!
