According to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the Welsh Parliament election will be a referendum on Sir Keir Starmer's premiership. Farage claims the vote in May will end Labour dominance in Wales, specifically stating that May 7 will end Labour dominance in Wales and in particular the Valleys. He has also asserted that if Reform gets this right, they will get rid of the worst Prime Minister any of us have seen in our lifetimes.
The devolved government in Wales has been led by Labour since it was first established more than two decades ago. According to reports, Reform and Plaid Cymru have topped recent opinion polls in Wales, though the specific polling data and current public opinion details are not provided. Reform UK's policies for Wales include scrapping the default 20mph speed limit, though the implementation plan for this change is unclear.
The party also plans to end Wales' status as a Nation of Sanctuary. The Nation of Sanctuary plan was introduced in 2019 to provide support for refugees and asylum seekers, including help accessing health services and advice on integration. A large proportion of the money spent on the Nation of Sanctuary plan supports Ukrainian refugees.
Nigel Farage has stated that a Reform-led Welsh government would have a bespoke scheme for Ukrainian refugees in Wales, but the specific measures included in this scheme are unknown. Farage explained that the Ukrainian situation is different, saying these people are genuine refugees, and that the objection is to those across the English Channel. Reform UK's Dan Thomas has outlined additional policies, stating that Reform would put Wales first by spending taxpayers' cash in Wales after abolishing foreign aid, though how exactly Reform would abolish foreign aid and redirect funds to Wales remains unspecified.
Thomas also said Reform would prioritize Welsh people for social housing alongside an end to the use of migrant, but the details of this policy to end the use of migrant in social housing are not detailed. The election outcome will determine whether Labour's decades-long control of Welsh politics continues or if Reform UK can capitalize on their polling momentum to reshape the political landscape.