Reform UK would "put Wales and Welsh communities first" in Senedd manifesto
The party, led by Nigel Farage, is expected to be one of the main contenders alongside Plaid Cymru in the Welsh parliamentary elections on May 7
Reform UK says it would "put Wales and Welsh communities first" with changes to social housing and the scrapping of foreign aid spending if it wins May's Senedd election.
The party, led by Nigel Farage, is expected to be one of the main contenders alongside Plaid Cymru in the Welsh parliamentary elections on May 7.
The party has been launching its election manifesto, unveiling a suite of policies, including scrapping the default 20mph speed limit and ending Wales' status as a Nation of Sanctuary.
Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas called the manifesto - which includes a promise to build an M4 relief road - a "blueprint for real change."
"These promises put Wales and Welsh communities first, and unlike the pledges put forward by other parties, these are deliverable," he said.
"Armed with this blueprint, we have all the building blocks to end a generation of decline here in Wales."
Mr Thomas added the party would "put Wales first" by "spending taxpayers' cash in Wales" after abolishing foreign aid and "prioritising Welsh people for social housing" alongside an end to the use of migrant hotels.
He's unveiling the manifesto alongside Mr Farage at an event in Newport.
Labour has led Wales since the Senedd was first established as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, but, if opinion polls are to be believed, the May elections could see more than two decades in power brought to a dramatic end.
Plaid Cymru and Reform have topped recent opinion polls in Wales, with both parties hoping to win enough seats to form a new government.
The Welsh Conservative Party manifesto, launched on Tuesday, also included a pledge to reverse the default 20mph speed limit.
Reform Wales will outline plans aimed at tackling the cost of living, including a business rates review, 5% council tax referendum limit and a "tax lock" pledge against new levies in Wales.
The party is also expected to reiterate commitments to keep the NHS free, alongside promises to cut waiting times and upgrade hospitals.
Mr Farage said: "I'm immensely impressed by the hard work that has gone into developing this ambitious but realistic blueprint for government.
"In a Senedd Election campaign that has been characterised by fantasy economics from the other parties, this document is a serious plan to deliver the real change Wales deserves."
Last week, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth outlined his ambitions for the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru administration in Wales, which he said aimed to demonstrate the "seriousness" with which the party was approaching the prospect of governing.
Its targets included improvements to healthcare, education and a "resetting" of the relationship between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.
'Tory manifesto in Reform clothing'
A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “This is a Tory manifesto in Reform clothing with billions in unfunded promises, thousands of job cuts, and no commitment to keep the NHS out of private profiteering hands.
“Cuts with Reform, ‘expense issues’ and ‘efficiencies’ with Plaid Cymru – both will not be honest about how they would pay for their wish lists.
“Welsh Labour is the only party serious about delivering fairness you feel.”
'Extreme plans to cut taxes'
Responding to Reform UK's Senedd manifesto launch, Anthony Slaughter said: “Reform politicians are offering nothing but re-heated Tory policies with added prejudice.
“Their extreme plans to cut taxes for the richest would devastate Welsh public services. They aren’t interested in making people’s lives better, only winning seats as a pit stop for putting Nigel Farage in Downing Street.
“Under the new voting system, every Green elected in May will be one less Reform politician treating Wales with contempt.”