Rupert Lowe calls to ‘scrap’ Senedd expansion
Jibreel Meddah
Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has repeated calls for the Senedd to be scrapped, arguing that plans to expand the Welsh Parliament represent an unnecessary and costly burden on taxpayers.
In a post on social media platform X, Lowe said there was widespread public opposition to the institution and criticised the proposed increase in the number of Members of the Senedd.
“Vast number of Welsh patriots want the Senedd abolished – I entirely agree.
Seats soaring from 60 to 96, costing an extra £19 million a year? What an eye-watering waste.
Scrap the lot.”
Mr Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, was previously a prominent figure within Reform UK and a close party ally of leader Nigel Farage before his criticisms of Farage’s “cult-like” leadership and lack of a government plan, saw Lowe’s suspended from the party.
Before entering politics, he was a businessman and used to own Southampton FC.
Since becoming an MP, he has built a polarising reputation due to his outspoken demand for constitutional reform, anti-immigration policies and increased public spending.
His use of social media has attracted ongoing controversy as he has been accused of inciting “culture wars” and oversimplifying complex policy issues. A move designed to prioritise impact and share-ability over nuance.
Lowe made similar comments about the Senedd’s expansion in August 2025. In a post published to X on Saturday 2 August 2025, he 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.”
At the time, 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.”
The Welsh Government has previously argued that increasing the number of Senedd members is vital to improve scrutiny and reflect the parliament’s expanded powers.
Under current plans the Senedd would grow from 60 to 96 members, a move ministers say would bring it more in line with legislatures of comparable size and responsibility.
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We in Cymru are trying to build a nation state, the expansion of MS numbers is crucial to achieve this aim. Some people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Uninvolved Wasteminster MPs intoning about a government that is nothing to do with them, shocker.
He probably want sot keep it small because Deform couldn’t field enough candidates to fill all those seats, even if the country DID have a collective mental breakdown and voted for them
He’s not in Reform anymore.
You’ve just got to laugh as soon as an English politician or journalist mentions “the Welsh Assembly”. It shows how these dinosaurs live in the past. Not sure if dearest Rupert wants to scrap the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly as well or is he just doing that traditional Reform trick of punching down on the little old Taffs (because they must be held down and taught their place). One thing he is right about is that it “doesn’t serve England”. That’s because it is in Wales for Wales, you bonehead. Perhaps, deep down, he really means abolish Wales.
It’s odd that when this increase in democracy is costing about the same as two new doors for the unelected House of Lords, it’s the democratic institution he rails against. Fascists hate democracy.
I am always happy to read another informed remark from that famous Cymro Rupert Lowe – he bows to no-one in his deep and sympathetic knowledge of the history and culture of Cymru. And have you heard his fluent Cymraeg? Meanwhile, back in the real world…
The opening line on this article needs changing: Lowe isn’t an MP for the right-wing extreme far-rage one-man cult, aka reform UK 2025 Ltd, even they won’t have him and threw him out. He’s even worse, if that’s possible.
You are correct but I think I just read past it because they are all the same hate driven, cess pit dwellers so name any of them and that’s near enough.
OK but Lowe was thrown out of Reform *because* he was anti-devolution.
He was thrown out of Reform because Musk picked him to replace Farage.
Another far right nut job poking his nose in affairs that have absolutely nothing to do with him. You’d think after the disastrous Brexit these clowns would keep their heads well down but not a bit of it.
Great Yarmouth is the furthest east you can get on this island but not far away enough for him so put him in a boat and push it away. I wouldn’t wish him on the good folk of Rotterdam though. I don’t think that is any more an outrageous thing to say than advocating for the abolition of a nation, its’ Parliament, a peoples’ national identity and existence. Nowhere near in fact.
Deform are just an antisemitic, anti islamic, racist and now clearly anti Welsh political party.
Concise and to the point. I hope as many as possible read your comment before the coming election.
The whole of Europe defends Greenland. Why cant they support Welsh Independence???
They don’t support its independence though.
Most countries and all large are empires full of conquered peoples. Once one leaves a domino starts and more might do the same. Ussr splintered into 16 states, austria hungary into 4 and 2 of those split further.
Uk could easily become 4, more of England splits.
Spain could has 2 strong secceionist movements.
France could easily split into 3.
Belguim into 2.
That’s before getting to India.
Within the last 24 hours, I have heard Iain Dale on LBC referencing Greenland and Farij referencing the USA getting rid of British rule and celebrating their right to? YES! ‘SELF DETERMINATION’ but not for Wales & Scotland though.
What the hell does Rupert Lowe know about the Senedd? Keep your beaky English nose out of Wales matters, you ignorant cockwomble!
Wish him all the best when he next visits Wales. He’ll leave with eggs and milkshakes all over him.
I can’t see anyone them coming to Wales any more. They will just keep screaming nonsense fron across the border.
Stay out of our business. What we do in Wales does not affect you or the people of Great Yarmouth.
How about he concentrates on ruining his own country. No place for racist filth like him in Wales
Posh, rich English MP wants to abolish any Welsh voice, unless its a Reform one of course.
Don’t you sense that elements of Westminster are starting to get a little nervous about the consequences of the forthcoming Senedd election?
English nationalists should focus on a free England. I don’t see the relevance of a Norfolk MP here.
I hope he reads this site and the comments. If you do Richard could I suggest that you keep your nose out of something that is nothing to do with you. If OUR government decide that the right thing to do to improve the level of scrutiny of the way Wales is governed then that is up to them not an MP from East Anglia. With just 60 MS’s there is nowhere near the flexibility for the level of scrutiny that happens in Westminster where they have 650 MP’s from which to populate the various select committees they need. So,… Read more »
Lowe is an irrelevant nobody who’s got the temerity to suggest that our democratically elected parliament should be abolished. Thankfully, this dim-witted bore will never get anywhere near the levers of power to do anything about it.
Remember what happened to Lowe when he was chairman of Southampton FC.Even the Saints fans had enough of him and eventually forced him out.
Has this article really been written by a nation.cymru reporter? It is so ignorant about the situation in Wales. Ruprert Lowe is irrelevant to Wales – and he is no longer a close associate of Farrage as he was either expelled or resigned from Reform in yet another split on the English right wing. I don’t like the new voting system in Wales, but the expansion of the Senedd is needed and has already been passed and has nothing to do with Rupert Lowe. He is also completely wrong saying there is a lot of support to abolish the Senedd… Read more »
I think you’re confusing this news piece for an Op-Ed. The point here is to inform readers of Rupert Lowes’ comments rather than to critique Reform (which Nation.Cymru do already) plus half the article features MS Alun Davies bashing Reform for trying to get involved in our politics. Just was confused by your comment
Having had the inside view of our NHS over the last 40+ years I know that 20 million plus could be better spent than on even more politicians. Strange how so many believe wasting more on politicians will make Wales any better when we have been sinking for so long.
Are you Dominic Cummings? He successfully campaigned against devolution in north east England with your message. And guess what happened. Instead of the north east getting more doctors instead of politicians, London got Crossrail.
Rupert who?
Don’t care what he thinks about anything and him and his horrible mates should keep their beaks out. However I don’t understand why we need 30 more AMs, and certainly not at the moment. What will they all do?
How have you decided what “enough” democracy looks like?
There are nearly 6000 Welsh Gov civil servants working away to govern you. 1% democratic oversight doesn’t seem enough to me and this will only worsen as more powers are devolved.
It is incredibly difficult to play devil’s advocate and view Mr Lowe’s perspective as reasonable. There was an expert panel, a commission, and two committees involved, and both Labour and Plaid stood on a manifesto commitment to implement this. This is democracy in action!
I suppose he could argue that the expanded numbers will be broadly equivalent to the number of Reform MSs elected. In that sense, he might have a point and could claim that scrutiny of government action will not be meaningfully improved purely by increasing numbers!
Dear Mr Lowe. You represent Great Yarmouth so do your job and mind your own business.
His boss Nigel Farage’s trip to Davos this week was hosted and paid for by the $10bn family trust of an Iranian-born billionaire.
Is this what they meant by prioritising British interests? Or have the Russian rubles dried up after losing their main contact?
Maybe he’s always been a WEF puppet.
An ignorant man who approaches every matter with an open mouth.