The social secretary of a working men’s club in Wales took no prisoners when laying into Labour, while branding Nigel Farage “the same as the rest of us”.
Visiting Merthyr Tydfil today, GB News’ Patrick Christys asked John Hagerty why traditional Labour devotees were making the switch to the Reform UK in the very constituency where Labour was born.
Merthyr Tydfil used to be the constituency of Keir Hardie, Labour’s first leader.
But the town is now tipped to flock to Reform after Labour kept a 100-year-long stronghold on the area.
“The main reason, they say, is that Labour isn’t doing it for Wales anymore,” Mr Hagerty candidly told Patrick.
He cited the 20 mile-per-hour speed limits imposed on Welsh residents, as well as the roads being left in a “terrible state”.
“A lot of people are wondering whether or not Nigel Farage could actually win in Wales. Obviously, he’s not Welsh, is he? He’s very much not Welsh. How do you think he’ll do?” Patrick asked.
“He’s not Welsh, but he talks a language. He speaks openly. Openly, doesn’t like the Tories. Openly, he doesn’t like Labour,” the Welshman responded.
Reform UK has been climbing in the polls ahead of May’s Senedd election
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GB NEWS
Back in September, Labour grandee Mick Antoniw warned Keir Starmer could be in for “the biggest kicking in our history” in the region.
A previous Senedd opinion poll placed Labour on a record low of 14 per cent, while Plaid Cymru and Reform UK were tied neck-and-neck.
Since 1999, Labour has snatched up all six Senedd elections since the very birth of devolution back under Sir Tony Blair.
Already looking forward to Senedd success, Mr Farage has vowed to rail against the status quo if Reform is catapulted into Cardiff Bay.
Mr Farage’s party is tied with Plaid Cymru in the Senedd opinion polls
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PA
However, the Clacton MP admitted it was too soon to begin announcing policy commitments and laying out a manifesto to the press.
He further promised “fresh thinking”, vowing to deploy every devolved power to improve the lives of those running small and medium-sized businesses across Wales.
“That is what we’ve got to devise for our manifesto coming up for May, to say we’re actually on the side of people working and people having jobs,” Mr Farage added.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, however, has admitted that “we certainly want to keep Reform out in the interest of Wales”.
“We would be in a position now if the polls are anywhere near to reflecting what the vote would be to being able to form a minority Government of our own, but remember that there has never been a majority Government in the history of devolution in Wales,” he told the BBC.
The knife-edge Caerphilly has already set the tone in the region, with Plaid Cymru snatching the once-safe seat, leaving Labour on its worst-ever result for the council.
But the election did not go without scandal, with vandals targeting Reform UK’s Cardiff Road office.
“Now you can f**k off home” was emblazoned across Reform’s campaign office shutters.
Speaking to the People’s Channel at the Caerphilly count, Llyr Powell said: “I am grateful to every voter who went to the ballot box and voted Reform, despite the fear and attacks that have been put against them by the other parties.”