Nigel Farage Drops Bombshell on Wales – No Plans to Lead Reform UK or Run in Senedd Elections
Nigel Farage has put to bed the swirling rumours that he might stand in the next Senedd election — but not without leaving behind a trail of intrigue.
Speaking to ITV Wales in a candid interview, the Reform UK leader admitted the idea had crossed his mind but ultimately decided against it. “I don’t intend to do that, that would be playing the game most cynically, and I’m not going to do it,” he said, reported BBC.
Farage’s name has been doing the rounds in Cardiff Bay for weeks, with speculation that a run could help him secure a spot in TV debates. While he’s not planning to enter the race himself, he dropped hints that some familiar faces in the Senedd might be thinking about jumping ship to Reform UK.
“I think one or two people might be interested, we’ll see,” he said, adding that he’s more focused on finding new voices from outside the political bubble. “What I want to see are people coming in from different walks of life,” he added, criticising the way politics has become a “career” path rather than a public calling.
While Welsh Tory figure Andrew RT Davies has ruled out defecting, Farage sounded open to conversation. “I’ve always found him a very interesting politician,” he said. “And if he wants to have a chat over a cup of tea, I’d be happy to do it.”
This all comes as Labour in Wales is taking a battering in the polls. An ITV Cymru Wales poll showed support for the party at its lowest since devolution began. Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s vote share has jumped to 30%, with Reform UK not far behind at 25%, marking a serious rise in popularity.
Farage thinks he knows why. “What you’ll find is a political class in Cardiff Bay pretty detached from the centre ground of public opinion,” he said. “Far from being the nasty party, we’re actually reflecting what a majority of decent people think.”
As the numbers shift, the real question now is about alliances. Neither Plaid nor Reform are expected to clinch a majority outright, which means the spotlight is now turning to potential post-election partnerships.
While Farage hasn’t committed to working with the Welsh Conservatives, he certainly didn’t rule it out either. “The Conservatives might barely exist after next year’s election… They might not have more than three or four seats,” he said, keeping his cards close to his chest.
One thing’s clear — Farage might not be standing in the Senedd, but he’s still firmly in the game.
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