Ousted Reform MP sparks backlash over abolish ‘Welsh Assembly’ post
Emily Price
Comments from a controversial ousted Reform MP calling for the abolition of the Senedd have sparked a backlash online.
In a post published to X on Saturday (August 2), Great Yarmouth MP, Rupert Lowe, wrote: “Scrapping the entire Welsh Assembly would be a positive move for Britain.
“More politicians, more laws, more waste, more talk, more state.
“We don’t need any of it.
“It doesn’t serve Wales, England or Britain.
“Abolish it.”
The post by Lowe – who has 408,000 followers on X – racked up over half a million views and thousands of re-posts.
‘Cowardice’
Social media users hit out at Lowe with several pointing out that Wales’ parliament stopped being called the Welsh Assembly in 2020 when it was officially renamed Senedd Cymru.
It’s not the first time the former Southampton Football Club chairman has made calls for Wales’ Parliament to be axed.
Earlier this year, Lowe accused Farage of “cowardice” because he wouldn’t commit to abolishing Wales’ Parliament.
During questions to the media after a press conference in Port Talbot in June, Farage was quizzed on whether he would allow Reform candidates looking to get a seat in the Senedd to hold anti-devolution views.
The Clacton MP replied: “No no no no. I mean that ship has completely sailed.
“There is no room for this. We are seeing devolution across much of England now as well.
“It’s time that everybody here in Wales accept it.
“This has happened – this clock is not going to be turned back, it’s about how we do it better.”
Farage’s comments later went viral on X, where Lowe commented: “More cowardice. We should abolish the Welsh Assembly.”
‘Nonsense’
We contacted Rupert Lowe and asked him a series of questions:
*Why do you refer to the Senedd as the Welsh Assembly when it is no longer known as that?
*Why as a Great Yarmouth MP are you so concerned about democracy in Wales which was supported by voters at a referendum?
*Why have you only singled out Wales’ parliament for criticism and not Holyrood or Stormont?
Rupert Lowe responded saying: “I would abolish these nonsense assemblies in both Wales and Scotland, as I have stated publicly before.
“It’s a waste of time, money and energy – and a large percentage of Welsh voters agree with me.
“The assembly is a self-important pantomime. Wales needs fewer politicians, not more.
“Cut tax, slash regulation and leave Welsh people alone.
“That’s what they want. Not even more petty little bureaucrats – Drakeford very much in mind.
“Yes, I am the MP for Great Yarmouth. So what? I am allowed to comment, just as I’m sure you comment on what’s happening in London.
“If it were up to me, I’d abolish the Welsh Assembly tomorrow – that would be celebrated by vast swathes of the Welsh population.”
Lowe was elected as a Reform MP at the general election last year but was suspended from the party in March amid claims he had made verbal threats against party chairman Zia Yusuf.
The Crown Prosecution Service said no criminal charges would be brought against the MP in relation to alleged threats towards Yusuf.
Lowe suggested Farage had a tendency to row with colleagues he felt threatened his position.
The Great Yarmouth MP vehemently denied allegations he had bullied staff and has since announced he will sue Farage, Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson for defamation.
Concerns have been raised that Lowe’s views on Welsh devolution are the same as the views of the party he was expelled from.
But Reform UK told Nation.Cymru this is not the case.
A spokesperson for Reform said abolishing the Senedd is “not our stance” and “never has been”.
‘Playground’
Labour MS Alun Davies blasted Reform saying Welsh democracy is not “the playground of the rich English establishment”.
He said: “The right wing hate our democracy. And they have always wanted to subjugate Wales to their own political agenda and interests.
“They hate opposition and like all bullies they hate people who challenge them.
“Welsh democracy is our democracy.
“It’s not the playground of the rich English establishment which Reform represents.
“And the power of our democracy is that we will take on their vested interests and defeat them. As we’ve done in the past.”
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Would Mr Lowe advise the USA to scrap their state governments? Over 20 states and territories have a smaller population than Wales so why not run them all from DC. Think of the bigly taxpayer savings with Dom in charge of their state governance.
So what and who will replace the Welsh Assembly? According to this guy.
The Senedd. He must be a fan, just a bit behind the times, bless him.
The extreme right and democracy have never gone together.
It’s already been abolished. We have a Senedd. And if you don’t like that – please leave on the first train.0
“It doesn’t serve Wales, England or Britain”. Why would the Senedd serve England?
Even Southampton FC fans campaigned successfully to remove him from the football club.
Enough said
Reform is rebranded UKIP, which was one of their original pledges: abolish the Welsh and Scottish parliaments, and centralise everything in Westminster. Similarly, that’s what Brexit is about: consolidation of all power to Westminster. Simply English nationalism.
Lowe will be jailed in an independent Wales. I look forward to the day.
Actually the Senedd only covers Wales whereas Westminster covers the entire UK. So what we have to say about London is valid, whereas that poor excuse of a politician who deserves nothing but sorrow and misfortune, has no right to talk about what happens in Cardiff Bay.
Rupert Lowe has already been abolished, thankfully, so why are we giving this perpetual loser airtime?
Only the freedom of self determination will cut out the cancer that is Rupert Lowe. He must have no say over anything in our country. The imperative of independence is here NOW simply by his words. Forget policy. The Senedd election is a fight for our very existence and is currently all that matters,
Remember Brexit, when certain people suggested solving the Northern Ireland border issue could be solved by the Republic leaving the EU too. Independence will not rid us of British imperialism.
Comes to something that you out fascist the fascists and get kicked out of the party.
There’s worse still in there.
He’s nothing but a self important loud mouthed pig ignorant piece of political rubbish. Interesting that most of those who strive to rid us of our senedd seem to hail from or represent the East of england.
That would be the policy position of any and all of the Reform UK lot if they ever succeed in achieving a majority in the Commons. Makes no difference that Mr Lowe has been ejected from their parliamentary party for daring to criticize ‘the Great Leader’, because Farage would surely take an identical line if at some future point he’s able to lead a government in Westminster. He’s only cultivating the Senedd elections now as a temporary means to an end, a preliminary step on the way, or so he hopes, to achieving the ultimate power. He represents a British… Read more »
Here we go again another English joke politician trying to threaten Cymru, why don’t they all stay their side of the border including the biggest skidmark Farage,
Its not meant to serve England. Is the Canadian Parliament meant to serve the United States? Is the Danish Parliament meant to serve Germany? Please Rupert get a brain!!
Btw what has Welsh autonomy got to do with Great Yarmouth? Nothing at all. You’re not from Wales so your opinion does not count!!
Why is there a need for an MP for Great Yarmouth? What a waste of money! Get rid and just have one MP for the whole of the south of England!
Ask him that question!
Ignorant little boy!
Calling for the abolition of a country’s democracy is so heinous and sickening that it should carry a prison sentence. At the very least, politicians that stoop so low should be be banned completely from British politics.
It’s always someone at the bottom of the pile who stirs this subject up.
A politician calling to remove democracy really shouldn’t be in a job.
It’s been some 30 years since the referendum. Time for a re-run to decide if the assembly is working or if it’s vast running costs could be better spent elsewhere. People have a right to change their mind.
I have continually asked people about Reform’s policies for Wales, but couldn’t get clear replies. Now we know why.
I will never vote Reform. We deserve to govern ourselves and after Farage stops the boats 😂😂 how do we know he won’t want our beautiful land for his beloved English people? Far fetched I agree, but that man would do anything to be PM even moving all illegal refugees to Wales and Scotland.
What the sennedd definitely does not need is MORE members, and if that is the way it’s heading I would agree with him to some degree. What a waste if money.