Reform MS rebuked after rebranding party as ‘Reform Cymru’
Emily Price
A Reform UK Member of the Senedd has been sharply rebuked after he suddenly began referring to his party as “Reform Cymru”.
Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf MS Cai Parry-Jones said it was a pleasure to open a debate calling for local referendums on council tax increases on Wednesday (October 14) on behalf of “Reform UK Cymru”.
Later during his speech, Parry-Jones referenced a “Reform Cymru councillor” on Anglesey who had voted against proposals to spend £1.1 million swapping household black bins for smaller ones.
Reform UK’s Welsh branch is officially called Reform UK Wales, but is also sometimes known as “Reform Wales”.
The word “Cymru” – which is the Welsh-language name for Wales – is heavily associated with Welsh nationalism and Wales’ governing pro-independence party Plaid Cymru.
Reform UK deliberately positions itself as the ideological opposite of Plaid Cymru, arguing that Welsh identity and the Welsh flag belong to everyone, not just nationalist parties.
Reform Wales officially translates its name to “Diwygio DU Cymru” in its bilingual communications and does not usually use the name “Reform Cymru”.
Following Parry-Jones’ contribution, Plaid Cymru MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd hit out at the Reform MS for appearing to rebrand his party.
Opening her speech, Cooper-Lesadd said: “Before I start, let’s be honest, Reform UK Wales is what you name yourself, not Reform Cymru.
“Reform Cymru does not exist.”
Parry-Jones could be seen on Senedd cameras looking around at his group as heckling broke out on Reform UK’s benches.
Speaking to Nation.Cymru after the exchange, Cooper-Lesadd said: “As Dan Thomas once told me, Reform Wales isn’t the name, it is Reform UK.
“In that same vain, Reform Cymru doesn’t exist, it has little autonomy or ability to make its own decisions.
“Policy and strategy is mainly generated by HQ.”
Cooper-Lesadd defected from Reform UK to Plaid Cymru in September just four months after being elected under Nigel Farage’s turquoise banner.
She claimed the party was “completely chaotic,” had “no interest” in governing Wales, and was more focused on creating division, opposition, and chasing headlines.
Since her departure, Reform UK’s elected figures have continually targeted her, with the latest criticism including claims by Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg MS Gareth Thomas that she doesn’t visit her own constituency.
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How many surgeries has Farage held in Clacton?
Not fair. He had one at a champagne and oyster bar discussing how best to get bungs to his party on the qt. Ask Orr and Juke about it. Can’t ask Farage because he said he wasn’t listening.
After being overlooked by Nigel, Dan’s natural and rightful successor has gone rogue.
Trist iawn feri sad.
Any reform of Cymru will be the day when Welsh voters finally remove the likes of MS Cai Party Jones from our Senedd.
Another day, another complete Reform embarrassment.
Even with all the funding they receive, they can’t seem to progress past national lampoon style gaffes and just making themselves look like angry toddlers.
Got to give them their dues, they’re extremely entertaining.
Whenever you hear a political party try to brand themselves something other than their officially registered party name they are seeking to present themselves as something they are not. The applies as much the ‘Welsh Labour’ as it does to ‘Reform Cymru’. Neither exist. It’s just slight of hand.
What a valuable contribution from Ms Cooper-Lesadd. There IS no such entity as Reform Wales or Cymru. It is ‘UK’ and the entire purpose of its’ presence in our Senedd is to subvert our country. She has confirmed this by disclosing the view of the former, arrested and under investigation, leader said as much so Dic Sion Dafydd here can do one.