'They failed!' Reform UK swats away Welsh Tories as row erupts on immigration impact

It also reaffirmed its commitment to leaving the ECHR and turning back boats crossing the Channel.

A Reform UK spokesman told GB News: "Reform UK stance on immigration is clear. We are the only party that is promising to have net zero immigration, leave the ECHR and turn back the boats.

"Reform UK Wales understands the negative impact mass immigration has had on Wales from housing to public services.

"Whilst Labour and the Tories have failed Wales in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay, Reform UK will bring real change to Wales. Wales is broken, Wales needs Reform.

In the years since 2022, an increase in net international and internal migration has been attributed to Wales’ overall population boom.

Last year, immigration became a major issue in Wales after the news that a hotel in Llanelli was due to house 241 asylum seekers - plans which the Home Office eventually threw out after protesters called for the accommodation to “return to active service as a venue for events and weddings”.

Carmarthenshire Council also opposed the Government plans for the Stradey Park Hotel due to concerns surrounding community tensions.

In the 2024 General Election, Reform fell agonisingly short of snatching Llanelli from Labour - trailing behind by just 1,500 votes in the once-safe seat.

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But as the populist party revs up support from its Welsh grassroots ahead of the next year's devolved elections, Oliver Lewis has speculated that Reform could be next in line to govern Wales.

Lewis, who is just one of many Reform UK spokesmen in Wales, claimed that his party could succeed in “20, 30, or hopefully 40” seats out of 96 members in Cardiff Bay.

Vowing that these elections would be Reform’s “biggest priority” next year, Nigel Farage also dubbed his party as a “serious contender” at the polls, insisting that it could “win a lot of seats”.

Welsh Labour politicians have started to quiver at the sight of Reform’s rise in Wales, including the possibility their Government could soon be booted out of power.

“It’s like Brexit all over again, isn’t it? Kicking back against the system," one Welsh Labour MP told PoliticsHome.

Currently, Reform has plans in place to establish a branch party in each Welsh constituency, eager to make their presence known through helping food banks, as well as other work to support local communities.

However, the Welsh Tories sensed an opportunity following Lewis's comments.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said: "Immigration has been too high and this has resulted in consequences for all parts of the UK, including Wales. It's a shame that not all politicians, including Reform's Wales spokesperson, seem to understand this."

Millar's predecessor Andrew RT Davies added: "The Conservatives made serious mistakes on immigration. The party’s liberal policy was quite wrong. I’ve been very frank and honest about that, because I don’t want to see those mistakes repeated. That’s why I’m very concerned to see Reform UK take this tone. We must call it out."