Actor Profile

Nigel Farage

Leader of Reform UK since June 2024, MP for Clacton. Former leader of UKIP and the Brexit Party.

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Anti-Devolutionindividual

Why Included?

High-reach anti-devolution and anti-Senedd rhetoric

Statements

Press conference, Port Talbot

2025-06-09

Farage visited Port Talbot to pledge reopening Tata Steel blast furnaces and build Reform's platform in Wales.

He said there was no room for anti-devolution candidates and called for acceptance of devolution, exposing internal tensions with abolitionist voices.

Direct quotes

  • "There is no room for this. We are seeing devolution across much of England now as well. It's time that everybody here in Wales accepts it."

Reform UK national conference, Birmingham

2025-09-05

Conference remarks on Reform's devolved election strategy and its tension with the party base.

He framed Welsh elections as building blocks toward a future Westminster win, reinforcing critiques that Reform sees Wales as a stepping stone.

Direct quotes

  • "The Welsh elections, together with the Scottish Parliament elections and next month's Caerphilly by-election, are a building block towards the party being successful at a future Westminster vote."

Press conference, Caerphilly - damage control after Laura Anne Jones remarks

2025-09-12

He sought to stabilise messaging after remarks about potentially scrapping the Senedd.

He blamed Labour failures for disillusionment and said he would not call for abolition, stressing acceptance of devolution.

Direct quotes

  • "There are some people in Wales who are very disillusioned with devolution. What they're disillusioned with is the failure of Labour, over 26 years, to make devolution work."
  • "You will not hear a word from me about getting rid of the Senedd. We have to accept the facts of life as they are, devolution has happened."

Reform UK Welsh manifesto launch

2026-03-05

Manifesto launch two months before the May election with Reform polling strongly.

He framed the election as a referendum on UK Labour and focused on populist policies, avoiding constitutional questions.

Direct quotes

  • "The Senedd election in May will be a referendum on Sir Keir Starmer's premiership."
  • "The Ukrainian situation is different. These people are genuine refugees."
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