Welsh Tory leader says “only deal is with the people of Wales” ahead of May Senedd vote
THE LEADER of the Welsh Conservatives has moved to shut down speculation about post-election alliances, insisting he will not enter into any agreement with either Reform UK or Plaid Cymru following May’s Senedd election.
Speaking ahead of his party’s spring conference in Llandudno on Friday (Feb 13), Darren Millar is expected to tell members that the only mandate he is seeking is directly from voters.
He will say that if people choose the Welsh Conservatives at the ballot box, they will get a Conservative administration — not a coalition stitched together after the votes are counted.
His stance mirrors comments previously made by UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has argued that parties discussing deals before polling day are not focused on delivering for the public.
Reform dismissed as “not ready for power”
With opinion polls suggesting Reform could perform strongly in May, Mr Millar is set to acknowledge that some voters may feel drawn to the party, but he will question whether it is prepared to shoulder the responsibility of governing.
He is expected to argue that Reform has no credible pathway to running the Welsh Government, pointing to past controversies within its Welsh leadership and questioning the substance of its policy platform.
Reform’s UK leader, Nigel Farage, has previously suggested the party’s immediate aim is to become a significant opposition force rather than take office — a position the Welsh Conservatives say underlines its lack of readiness for government.
Plaid branded “focused on separation”
Turning to Plaid Cymru, Mr Millar will accuse the party of propping up Labour in the Senedd while attempting to present itself as an alternative.
He is expected to claim that Plaid’s long-term goal of Welsh independence overshadows its domestic agenda, arguing that constitutional change — rather than bread-and-butter issues — remains its central objective.
According to Mr Millar, a Plaid-led government would prioritise breaking away from the United Kingdom, a move he says would create economic uncertainty and put pensions, cross-border employment and public finances at risk.
Labour record under fire
The Welsh Conservative leader will also target Welsh Labour, which has governed Wales since devolution.
He is set to argue that after nearly three decades in power, Labour’s record on the NHS, schools and the economy has left Wales lagging behind other parts of the UK.
Among the issues likely to be raised are long NHS waiting lists, concerns about educational standards and rising unemployment figures.
Mr Millar will also reference recent remarks by First Minister Eluned Morgan about supporting the hospitality sector — comments that drew headlines — suggesting that economic challenges facing Welsh businesses run far deeper than consumer habits.
Election battle lines drawn
With polling indicating that the contest in May could be highly competitive, the Welsh Conservatives are positioning themselves as the only alternative to what they describe as “27 years of Labour failure”, while rejecting both nationalist and populist rivals.
Whether that message resonates with voters across Pembrokeshire and the wider west Wales region remains to be seen.
