Reform Wales Senedd hopeful leaves party amid concerns he could be targeted like Charlie Kirk
Emily Price
A Reform member and Senedd hopeful has announced he will leave the party amid concerns he could be targeted like Charlie Kirk.
Councillor Scott Thorely has faced pressure from anti-racism campaigners after being co-opted onto Haverfordwest Town Council in June.
He stood as a Reform UK candidate in county council elections and a by-election for the seat vacated by Cllr Andrew Edwards and was unsuccessful, being co-opted later.
It triggered the launch of a petition on Pembrokeshire County Council’s website by campaign group West Wales Stand Up to Racism calling for the local authority to reaffirm its commitment “to fostering an inclusive and anti-racist Wales”.
Debate
The petition attracted 300 signatures and sparked a debate in Pembrokeshire’s county hall.
On September 18, the council’s scrutiny committee concluded that party affiliation alone was not grounds to take action against Cllr Thorely.
He branded the petition a “personal attack” and vowed to continue on.
However, on Tuesday (September 23), Cllr Thorely told his Facebook followers he was “leaving Reform Wales for now” so he could “take a break from all the craziness”.
He later published a further Facebook post stating he would not stand in the Senedd elections next year.
Cllr Thorely said: “I’ve decided not to stand next year at the Senedd, just before I clicked submit I thought about everything that would come with it.
“Would my family be safe? Would my life be picked apart? Is it worth the risk?
“I think the assassination of Charlie Kirk by a brainwashed lunatic made me realise what’s important.
“I will continue campaigning for Reform and fight the far left hate group that has targeted me but for me personally it’s not worth it at this moment.”
The next day, Cllr Thorely deleted the post and told Nation.Cymru he wanted to “retract” the comments he had made.
Controversial
Kirk – a right-wing political activist and trusted Trump ally – found fame as an avid public speaker touring liberal leaning US college campuses to promote conservative views.
The American podcaster made several controversial statements on issues such as gender, race, women’s rights and gun control and often drew fierce criticism.
Kirk was gunned down on September 10 while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University – the first stop on his “American Comeback Tour” of college campuses.
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I’m pretty sure Tesco in Haverfordwest don’t sell guns.
Grow up.
Now something seems fishy seemingly disingenuous using something that happened thousands of miles away.
What is wrong with standing up to racism he doesn’t like. Why worry about life being picked apart if you haven’t done anything that conflicts with standing up to racism.
Why exactly is he afraid of the scrutiny that naturally comes with standing for a major Parliament like the Senedd? Does make you wonder if he’s got something to hide?
Many councillors in England have been show up to be very nasty in past socials. A few have been expelled.
Seemed to have lost my comment. Was he threatened? Just because he was questioned about why reform opposed the Anti racist Wales Action Plan does not constitute a threat. His inability to answer demonstrates his conviction or lack of.
Scott who? But if he’s so apparently feareful for his safety he’ll presumably now also be tending his resignation from the position as councillor that he was co-opted on to by his party chums? Maybe also worth pointing out that violent threats to politicians in the UK have come from the extreme right….ask Rosie Cooper and the family of Jo Cox.
The thing is these right wing individuals and parties preach hatred and division. Is it no surprise then that that same sort of rhetoric but from opponents will come knocking on their door? There are two sides to every argument. No one condones violence but there are some scared people out there, scared of the rhetoric from these far right people. Preach hatred and that hatred may come back to haunt you – it’s the world we live in.
I think he’s a poser who just wants the publicity but is scared of having to stand by his convictions and justify Reform’s extreme views. He’s as much in danger as I am for writing things like this on Nation.Cymru
It’s a strange form of delusion to imply you hold such a significant place in public life that you and your family may be at risk, when in fact you barely register outside your home town and maybe not even there.
Just seeking to exaggerate the virtually non existant threat of violence to exploit and .magnify division. He’s not fooling anyone.
Yanks do shootings – it seems intrinsic to their national culture. Folk in Wales, with the rarest of exceptions, don’t.
Don’t flatter yourself lad.
There is such a stigma working for Reform now that the part may end imploding..
Ooooh, bless his turquoise cotton socks.
Thinks he’s special too.
A bit of an inflated idea of himself?
Any old way to get a bit of attention seeking publicity. .
No mate. This is Wales and you’re behaving in a disgusting manner if you support reform in our country.
You just don’t have the dignity to believe in the courage of conviction and you’re making a bit of noise and stamping your feet because youve been called out on your behavior.
People don’t join reform because they’re successful.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Politicians are a strange breed. There is something odd, creepy or dodgy about every one of them. The only politician that had any substance was the late Anthony Wedgewood-Benn.
The second amendment doesn’t yet exist here.
Wants to step away from the craziness (that’s Reform UK), feels threatened (like all people who have to contemplate the craziness of Reform UK) and refers to some hate group whilst pledging to continue campaigning for the undisputed and undeniable hate group extraordinaire. Remember the hideous noise that accompanied a dial up connection in the ‘90s? That’s the nonsensical and incomprehensible noise of garbled Deform messaging. Meaningless!