Former Reform Senedd hopeful issues stark warning to Welsh voters

Emily Price

A former Reform Senedd election hopeful has issued a stark warning to Welsh voters, claiming the party’s top candidates are driven by “power, money and self-interest” amid deepening internal turmoil.

Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg candidate Owain Clatworthy announced on Tuesday (March 31) he was leaving Reform UK, citing concerns about the selection process used to choose the party’s top candidates for the May 7 election.

It came after Nation.Cymru published an image of lead candidate and former Conservative aide Corey Edwards performing a Nazi salute.

Clatworthy told the BBC the image, “really did it for me. I can’t support a party that would be happy to back something like that”.

Five of Reform’s Senedd election hopefuls have so far stepped down since the party unveiled its full slate of candidates a week ago.

On Wednesday (April 1) Clatworthy took aim at one of Reform’s top media performers in Wales – Torfaen councillor Jason O’Connell.

He has faced accusations in recent days from his own party members of being “parachuted” into the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency from outside the area.

In a post to X, O’Connell said Reform was gaining “momentum” in Wales adding that his party’s manifesto would put Welsh people first.

Clatworthy responded warning that O’Connell was not motivated by Valleys families – but by a Senedd salary and other “perks”.

O’Connell wrote: “Woke up feeling super motivated this morning!

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Wales we all love: the one with tight-knit communities, proud valleys, and people who work hard and look out for each other. But let’s be honest… it’s been tough lately.

“Too many families are struggling, our services are under pressure, and it sometimes feels like the big decisions forget about ordinary Welsh people just trying to get by.

“That’s why I’m so excited about Reform’s plan for Wales. Finally, a manifesto that talks straight, puts Welsh families first, and actually wants to sort things out; more money in your pocket, real opportunities for our kids, and communities we can be proud of again.

“If you’re reading this and you’ve had enough of the same old story, this is your nudge. Every chat you have with a mate, every post you share, every door you knock, it all adds up.

“I’ve seen the spark in people’s eyes lately. Momentum is growing because normal, decent people are waking up and saying ‘enough’.

“We’re not superheroes. We’re just ordinary men and women who care about our country. But when we stand together, we’re stronger than we think.

“I’m in this because I want to build the Wales our kids deserve. One conversation, one vote, one step at a time. Wales needs real reform, and it starts with us.”

‘Perks’

Sharing the post, Clatworthy wrote: “Jason, like far too many others in Reform, is not motivated by the Valleys or your families.

“They’re motivated by the Senedd salary, the perks, the pension, the title, and protecting their own. Power. Money. Self-interest.”

A senior Reform UK source said the party was in the midst of a “civil war” and warned that further resignations by candidates were expected ahead of the May 7 election.

The source said: “At this stage it’s civil war. Welsh leader Dan Thomas hasn’t seemed to have intervened or done any leading at all, as chaos descends over the farcical candidate selection that was used by Torfaen’s David Thomas and HQ to place friends into winnable rankings.

“Owain Clatworthy is right – the whole party has become a careerist vehicle.”

Last year, Clatworthy made history in Bridgend when he became the county’s youngest ever councillor at 20-years-old – clinching the win for Reform with a narrow margin of only 30 votes, edging out Labour.

It later emerged that weeks after his election, he had tried to join the council’s ruling Labour group, saying he couldn’t stand Nigel Farage and that Reform was full of people with big egos.