Reform UK accused of by-election dirty tricks after casting doubt on Welsh rivals’ heritage
Emily Price
A Reform candidate standing in a by-election in Neath Port Talbot has been accused of “dirty tricks” after he told locals that one of his proudly Welsh opponents was actually from England.
Josh Tuck – a Welsh Labour candidate in Baglan – faced a barrage of questions about his background after rumours were sparked by Reform supporters about where he was from.
The misrepresentation of his heritage was fuelled further by Reform’s candidate for the ward – John Bamsey.
Bamsey – who has links to the Port Talbot Freemasons – suggested to locals in a community Facebook group that Tuck was from Yeovil in Somerset and had moved to Baglan only recently.
The 67-year-old former Royal Marine also warned the community group that there was “secrecy” around the Labour candidate’s campaign and argued that it was important for Tuck to “demonstrate a valid link with the community”.
With the Baglan by-election vote set to take place next week, a Labour member hit back at Bamsey accusing him of “skulduggery” and taking part in a “misinformation and speculation campaign” which was undermining the democratic process.
Harrowing
Concerns were raised that the hearsay about Tuck’s upbringing had stemmed from a harrowing Somerset Live news article from 2018 headlined: “Somerset man reveals how he took back control years after he was raped by a neighbour.”
The article laid out the upsetting details of how Tuck was sexually abused by his neighbour at a sleep over when he was just 10 years old.
His experience was later told by the NSPCC as part of a campaign to encourage those being abused to speak out.
The article explained how Tuck’s story had been read out by movie star Martin Freeman at a Childline Ball attended by comedian John Cleese.
Welsh
The news article has resurfaced online in the run up to the by-election following allegations that Tuck was actually English and not from Wales.
In response, Tuck posted a statement to Facebook explaining his Welsh roots.
He said: “I was born in the Rhondda Valleys, I moved to England when I was young so my mam could pursue her law degree.
“My family has been connected to Neath Port Talbot since the 1960s, when my grandfather worked in the steelworks – to this day, all of my family, except for my mam, live in the nearby area. This is my home.”
The Welsh Labour candidate’s parents separated shortly after moving to England and his father moved back to south Wales where Tuck visited him and both sets of grandparents regularly.
‘Traumatic’
He then moved back to Wales permanently several years ago and is now the only candidate in the Baglan by-election that actually lives in Baglan.
The election hopeful said the rumours had gone “deeper than conjecture” because the individuals misrepresenting his background had “chosen to weaponise the most traumatic experience” of his life.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Tuck said: “They have clearly searched for information about me online and found news articles detailing the childhood sexual abuse I endured.
“Abuse so severe it left me with PTSD, years of pain, and moments where I no longer wanted to be here.
“Instead of seeing the hard work I have done locally and nationally for the good of our local community and children everywhere – they have seemingly chosen only to turn it around and question the very foundations of who I am – my identity as a proud Welshman.
“They discovered I had once lived in Somerset, and, I believe, twisted that into a narrative to undermine me. What they didn’t care to understand is why I was there.
“My mother made the agonising decision to move us from our home to Somerset so I could recover, heal, and simply survive.”
‘Purpose’
He added: “In time, and with enormous effort, I turned my trauma into purpose. I’ve shared my story publicly to raise awareness and support for others—especially children—through charities like Childline and the NSPCC.
“That journey from survivor to advocate is something I carry with pride, not shame.”
“But to see something so personal, something I’ve fought so hard to overcome, used to try and discredit me in a political race… it’s disgraceful. It’s cruel. And it says far more about them than it ever could about me.”
We contacted John Bamsey and asked him the following questions:
*Why are you trying to cast doubt on the residency of Josh Tuck when you yourself don’t live in Baglan?
*You have been accused of using “dirty tactics” in this by-election, what do you say to that?
*The Somerset Live article is clearly a very sensitive story for victim of rape to have to revisit – do you think it’s fair to smear a candidate by posting mistruths about his background?
John Bamsey did not provide us will a response.
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Reform are and will take politics to new lows, the last thing Welsh and British politics needs.
Farage is putins useful idiot and by extension, reform, so not really worried where people are from, it is who they are useful to.
It doesn’t surprise me in the least to hear that a Reform UK member has lied. After all, the leader of UKIP, the Brexit Party and, now, Reform UK – Farage – has been showing how its done since prior to the Brexit vote in 2016.
Dirty tricks and dirty party. They swooped really really low. Very nasty.
Reform have nothing to offer so resort to the Finkelstein Formula. Unfortunately gullible people will fall for it.
It’s hard not to view Reform’s John Bamsey as a disgusting piece of work. Resorting to this sort of behaviour smacks of desperation. I sincerely hope the people of Baglan send him a message in this by election.
Josh Tuck,you really don’t deserve this. I wish you well regardless of whether you succeed or not in your campaign.
Well said
Thank you
This gem from the Reform UK candidate whose leader Nigel Farage is “English” of French Huguenot ancestry, whose ancestors ironically fled France in their small boats.
No surprise here, 11 reform councillors gone in recent months due to being incapable of doing the job they were elected to do, only idiots are voting for reform. The same idiots that voted for brexit
Not all Reform voters are idiots. Many of them are just brainwashed by the right wing English media and online propaganda. NEVER attack voters, always attack immoral and morally depraved politicians and political activists.
While you may have a valid point, it’s the “voters” who put these crackjobs into positions of power. They deserve to be called out for supporting the morally bankrupt. Their so-called politicians are only writing large what they’re already thinking. I think it’s a bit of a fallacy to say the electorate are brainwashed or are sheep. To my ultimate shame, I am forced to conclude that a large proportion of my compatriots are horrible, ignorant people. For me, they are not Welsh. They do not stand for the values that I would hope our proud nation would cherish. Gwarth.
Rather ironic that someone should be complaining about secrecy when they have links to a society with secrets? and what sort of lowlife scum would drag the past of an abuse victim back into the public domain?
Spot on.
Mr Tuck IS Welsh, Mr Bamsey IS English. No issues so far until Mr Bamsey makes it one and in doing so, pushes the stock in trade of Reform UK. Reversal of fact, alternative truth, disinformation, turning right into wrong, telling it as it isn’t, making what is isn’t and what isn’t is. Every word out of the mouths of occupants of the parallel world holds no validity whatsoever. The endemic disease of false narrative in perpetuity. Just hold on to the truth and you won’t go mad. Apply these words. NOTHING THEY SAY and be guided to safety and… Read more »
Farage has lied very recently in claiming that if Reform UK gets into power he’ll re-light the 2 blast furnaces in Port Talbot and re-open Wales’ coalmines. How can he re-light furnaces that will have been dismantled by the end of the year? Moreover, re-opening disused and flooded coalmines would be virtually impossible and, in any even, highly dangerous assuming he could persuade any youngsters to risk their lives by becoming miners.
To see what Reform are really like – have a look at these:
https://www.youtube.com/@politicalcustard
Political Custard are doing a great job in exposing Reform councillors and the mess they are making due to their incompetence and idiocy. There is no shortage of material for their regular short videos on You Tube! I wonder how many Reform morons will watch them though, or draw the obvious conclusion?
Diolch am ‘political custard’. I shall enjoy sifting through these later.
No place in Wales for Reform or its supporters.
Keep this utter filth out of our communities.
I just don’t feel safe having reform voters near my children. They quite openly support convicted abusers and general wronguns of society, so they at the very least, don’t condemn those activities.
Considering that encouraging/ teaching children racial hatred is a formerly recognised form of abuse you do have a valid point.
When you hear reform supporters openly boasting that they’d shoot everyone on the small boats, I don’t think child safety I’d on their list of priorities.
Will John Bamsey be cheering for Wales against England in the Womens Euros in Sunday? Or cheer for Wales in the Six Nations next year?
Fat chance. He may try to mime the Welsh anthem though.
Reform are an English only company. Someone originally from England, running for local politics where they live now, non issue. A company saying my Welsh birn kids are not Welsh I take great offence too.. Reform need to feel the pain at the ballot box for their vile ways.
There is no start to the awfulness of the Farage Fan Club and its adherents.
The most disgusting thing so called Reform have done so far and this adds to an already long list of despicable things. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, this is depraved! I deteste so called Reform with a passion and this just confirms that my moral radar is spot on.