THE NEW leader of the Green Party has accused Reform UK of holding Wales in “contempt” as both parties gear up for what could be the most unpredictable Senedd election in history.
Zack Polanski, confirmed this week as the Greens’ new leader, visited Wales and told supporters that Nigel Farage’s party was “treating Wales as nothing more than a stepping stone to Downing Street.” He said Reform’s refusal to appoint a Welsh leader showed “their contempt for this country,” adding: “Voters literally have no idea who their pick for First Minister would be for next year’s crucial Senedd elections.”
The Greens believe they have a chance of winning their first seat in Caerdydd Penarth. Polanski outlined his party’s vision to introduce rent controls, bring water into public ownership, and lower bills through renewable energy. “Where they offer division, Greens offer actual solutions to people’s concerns,” he said.
Farage’s vision for Wales
Nigel Farage has made Wales central to his campaign strategy, promising to bring back heavy industry and tackle economic decline. At an event in Port Talbot, he called for the reopening of coal mines to fuel Welsh blast furnaces. “Our belief is that—for what uses coal still has—we should produce our own coal… Many will take these jobs, even though mining is dangerous,” he said.
Farage has also promised to establish regional technical colleges in Wales to train young people in trades such as welding, plumbing, electrical work and robotics. He tied this to what he described as Labour’s long failure to deliver for Wales, pointing to a £10,000 gap in GDP per person compared with the UK average.
On the campaign trail in Caerphilly, Reform UK highlighted failures in the NHS and pledged to cut “wasteful spending” in Cardiff Bay, as well as questioning Welsh Labour’s 20mph speed limit.
Calls to scrap the Senedd
At Reform UK’s party conference in Birmingham this week, Laura Anne Jones MS, the party’s only member in the Senedd, suggested that abolition of the Welsh Parliament could be on the table.
“We need to try and make the Senedd work for the people of Wales, but if it doesn’t we need to question whether the Senedd is really adding value,” she told delegates. Speaking afterwards, she added: “As a party we are not ruling anything out. If it gets to a point where even we cannot make it work for Wales, then we have to question why it’s there.”
Her comments mark one of the strongest signals yet that Reform could campaign to scrap the Senedd altogether, a policy likely to polarise Welsh voters.
Changing political landscape
With the Senedd set to expand from 60 to 96 seats under a new voting system, both the Greens and Reform sense an opportunity to break into Welsh politics. A YouGov poll in May suggested Plaid Cymru leading with 30 per cent, Reform close behind on 25 per cent, and Labour slumping to 18 per cent.
The clash between the Greens and Reform highlights the wider realignment in Wales. The Greens are appealing to younger and urban voters with policies on housing and the environment, while Reform is targeting disillusioned communities with promises of industrial revival and constitutional shake-ups.
The next Senedd election is scheduled to take place by May 7, 2026.
