STORY
Reform UK has made a combative start as the official opposition in the Senedd after its strong performance in the 2026 Welsh election gave the party a significant role in Cardiff Bay.
The party won 29% of the vote and moved ahead of the Welsh Conservatives, taking leadership of five Senedd committees. Its early weeks have included sharp exchanges over migration and refugee policy, with criticism from other Members of the Senedd over language used in the chamber.
Reform UK has defended its approach as a challenge to established politics, while opponents have questioned whether the party is adapting to the more consensual working style of the Senedd. Its performance in Wales is being watched closely because of Nigel Farage’s wider ambitions for the party across the UK.