“Wales is at a turning point, but with Reform, our best days lie ahead,” declared the party’s Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, this week as he unveiled his list of 96 candidates for seats at the Senedd in six weeks’ time.
Such expectation and confidence may appear misplaced for a party with just two out of 60 Members of the Senedd.
But thanks to growing voter despondency towards Sir Keir Starmer, coupled with success at last year’s English local elections, hopes have been raised within Reform UK HQ of a surge of turquoise and white inside the modern Welsh parliament in the 7 May elections.
Armed with a manifesto including key policies such as scrapping the country’s controversial 20mph speed limit and ending Wales’ status as a Nation of Sanctuary – a safe and welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees – Mr Farage has branded the election a referendum on the prime minister’s premiership. But he needs suitable candidates to win the seats.
And having been forced to drop a string of candidates at the UK general election in 2024, Mr Farage has been clear over getting the vetting process for the Welsh election right, describing it as “absolutely key” in an interview with Politics Home. According to the outlet, he has also brought in TV personality Jeremy Kyle to help with the party’s media training.
But a look at the number of Reform candidates for the 16 constituencies reveals some interesting characters who are no strangers to controversy.
Among them was Reform’s lead candidate for Bont Bro Morgannwg Corey Edwards, who worked for former Welsh Secretary David TC Davies between November 2022 and October 2023, and according to his LinkedIn, has experience in roles for the UK government.
His announcement as a candidate has been marred by a photograph of him performing a Nazi salute that surfaced online less than a day later.
When The Independent approached Reform UK Wales, the party issued a statement on Mr Edwards’ behalf. In it, he said: “A photo from many years ago has been shared that I recognise looks bad and could be misinterpreted.
“The Nazi regime was the most barbaric ever, and I’d never make light of nor dilute its seriousness. My dear grandfather fought against the Nazis, and his brother-in-law was a prisoner of war. I’m a staunch champion of Judaism, and it sickens me to see the recent openly antisemitic marches on the streets of Britain.
“I am proud of the person I am today and the values I stand for, and I hope that people judge me on the professionalism of how I conduct myself as a candidate and the contribution I can make going forward.”
The spokesperson also said: “We’re [Reform UK Wales] not willing to write people off forever because of mistakes they made when they were young people.”
A day after the picture came to light, Mr Edwards said he would no longer stand.
A Reform UK Wales spokesperson said: “Corey Edwards has informed us that he is stepping down as a candidate for the Senedd election this May, citing issues with his mental health.“We wish him well for the future and hope his privacy can be respected at this difficult time.”
The party’s top candidate for Gwyr Abertawe, Francesca O’Brien, became Swansea’s first ever Reform councillor when she defected from the Tories three years ago. Appearing as a local champion on social media, she regularly updates residents on council issues, from questions she has raised in the chamber on supporting farmers to her appearances at talks and on television programmes. But some of her media work has been questioned.
In January, she was accused of comparing asylum seekers to people who deliberately use deepfake platforms to sexualise children during a debate on AI chatbot Grok on the ITV programme Sharp End.
Referring to government minister and fellow panellist Ken Skates saying stricter rules were needed to protect safety, she said: “About women and children’s safety... it’s a little laughable when we have mass uncontrolled immigration into the UK, and yet we say about keeping women and children safe.”
Mr Skates responded: “I’m astonished by that, quite frankly. To compare asylum seekers to people who deliberately use deepfake platforms to sexualise children is just abhorrent, I’m afraid.”
Ms O’Brien defended herself, calling her point a “genuine concern” and saying it was not “abhorrent”. She added: “I don’t think people watching will agree with that either.”
Back in 2019, before she stood for the Tories in the election of the Gower seat, Ms O’Brien got into hot water when she said in a social media post that people on the Benefits Street reality TV show needed “putting down”.
In a statement at the time, she said: “These comments were made off the cuff, a number of years ago. However, I accept that my use of language was unacceptable and I would like to apologise for any upset I have caused.”
When approached by The Independent this week, a Reform UK Wales spokesperson responded on her behalf and did not address her past comments but said: “Francesca is a hardworking community champion who delivers for her residents in her role as a councillor. The people of Wales have been ignored by Plaid and Labour, and its candidates, like Francesca, who are giving those people a voice once again by opposing the default 20mph speed limit and fighting to cut the cost of living.”
Reform MS Laura Anne Jones, who is the party’s top candidate for Sir Fynwy Torfaen, has also been forced to apologise for her previous comments. In December, she issued an apology after being suspended from the Senedd for two weeks over a racial slur in a WhatsApp group in 2023.
The remark was about Chinese people, and was made before she defected from the Conservatives.
Ms Jones said: “As for the language that I regrettably used in the private WhatsApp messages, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise once again for that in this chamber,” she said, adding she and her staff have completed Senedd respect and conduct training.
In Gwyr Abertawe, the party’s sixth candidate is Scott Thorley, who is a councillor on Havardfordwest Town Council and, following a by-election victory last month, is also a Reform councillor on Pembrokeshire County Council.
He is vocal on Facebook, updating his 328 followers on all things from car park charges to local business events. He also appears unfazed by entering politics, as he often reflects on his dealings with criticism.
But back in June, it appeared to get too much when he wrote that he was stepping down from Reform following the assassination of American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. Nation Cymru reported that he wrote a post, later deleted, saying: “I’ve decided not to stand next year at the Senedd, just before I clicked submit, I thought about everything that would come with it. Would my family be safe? Would my life be picked apart? Is it worth the risk?
“I think the assassination of Charlie Kirk by a brainwashed lunatic made me realise what’s important.”
When The Independent asked the councillor about his comments, he said he took a brief “back step” from the party, and it was because his wife was “worried that someone would do something stupid”. He added: “I don’t think she thought I was going to get shot, but she was worried that something could happen to herself or me, and that was obviously a concern.”
He said that the upcoming election is “really exciting”, adding: “I think most people [in Wales] who get up in the morning and go to work, they just want the basics done right. They want a future for their kids. They want good schools, good hospitals and good local services.”
Reform’s candidates for the Senedd range vastly in age and experience, starting from Owen Clatworthy, who was voted in as Bridgend County Borough’s youngest ever councillor last year, aged 20. In an interview published by Wales Online last year, he said he grew up in care, and now wanted to get into politics to make a change.
The candidate for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg said: “I’m not a career politician with scripted answers, I’m just me and I think that’s what people want. I'm sure some will stereotype me because I’m young but I’ve got life experience and I think we need more young people involved in politics to have a mix of new ideas with experience.”
At the other end of the range, Patrick Benham-Crosswell, standing for Gwyr Abertawe, who served as a British army officer for 12 years. He is the author of six books, including one on why he joined the Brexit Party, and another on the cost and consequences of the UK’s zero emission ambition.
In an interview published on Wales Online last year, the 62-year-old, who came second to Labour in the Swansea West general election in 2024, said: “The British, and Welsh in particular, are incredibly polite and tolerant. I think I only had one leaflet ripped up.”
Reform UK candidate stands down after appearing to do Nazi salute
Farage says he has been invited to watch Sunderland after Ipswich visit backlash
Iran war causing ‘temporary shortages’ at some petrol pumps, says Asda boss
Iran holding world’s economy ‘hostage’ with Strait of Hormuz closure – Cooper
Polanski says breast enlargement claim saw surge in emails from men asking for help
Ministers were stockpiling French wine before Brexit deadline amid fears of ‘no deal’
