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Iindependent Readers have been critical of Labour’s handling of Welsh language Community – especially in former mining areas – and expressed deep suspicion Reform Britaincommitment.
Their reaction is as follows Exclusive reporting by Holly Evanswho spoke to locals in poor communities, ditched Labor and switched to Nigel FarageReform ahead of schedule in May parliament Elections, a two-horse race between reformists and reformists Plaid Cymru It seems to be taking shape.
Many are disappointed with Labor, arguing the government has failed to revive investment in the region’s industrial wealth, neglected infrastructure and allowed towns and high streets to decline further.
Commentators pointed to the lingering impact of Brexit and a lack of opportunities for young people as key causes of local disappointment.
Many have warned that the Reform Party is far from the solution it claims to be, describing the party as inexperienced and opportunistic and criticizing Farage for supporting policies that undermine public services, workers’ rights and the NHS.
Others say Glad Cymru’s success in Caerphilly shows immigration is not the problem, but that chronic neglect and broken promises are driving voters towards other options.
This is what you have to say:
Swipe right again
This article perfectly explains the inner despair WalesValley—ghost towns, shuttered stores, soaring unemployment, and a complete lack of hope after decades of neglect. No wonder Labour’s century-long grip is slipping. They failed miserably and, like the Conservatives before them, delivered nothing but scandal, stinginess and empty promises.
There is no doubt that Reform Britain will win the next Senate election – they are the only game in town, tapping into raw anger at immigrants, crumbling high streets and zero opportunities for young people. But let’s face it: Farage has been compromised by the establishment and he won’t deliver even half of what is really needed to turn things around. This will only pave the way for further right-wing parties to rise and fill the post-election void, ultimately bringing these communities the sweeping change they deserve.
wrong solution
I can understand the Welsh people’s frustration with Labour, but if they think reform is the solution, they are sadly mistaken.
There is no experience in reform and very little professional knowledge indeed. Over the past few months, as the party leadership faced reality, some parts of the “contract” for reform have been downplayed as “aspirations.”
Voting the Reform Party into power would be a serious mistake, perhaps even worse than voting Labour.
Perhaps a Reform Party vote in May 2026 is the lesser of two evils. Then, come the 2029 general election, the Reform Party will have completely exposed itself, and voters can choose wisely who occupies the tenth spot.
no vision
Sadly, people have become so desperate that they will even consider voting reform. Devolution has been a disaster for Wales. For 25 years, Labor’s power has remained largely unimpeded, but Labor has gained nothing. This is terrible.
Plaid Cypriots are the only ones currently opposed to the reforms, and even they have yet to outline any sort of vision to give people hope. The fact that the PC’s leader – who’s hardly a visionary – is surrounded by a below-average team doesn’t help either. Still, PC is the only show in town. The British Labor Party should have identified the lack of talent in Welsh Labor decades ago, so they must also take responsibility for the rise of reform.
dying community
I know the South Wales valleys very well. I have a preferred theory about such areas in the UK and even other run-down European communities. Seeing a place like this, one naturally asks, “What do they do for a living?” But the OAPs and unemployed people live in these places, so it doesn’t matter that there are no other employment opportunities other than sporadic food shops, takeaways and bars, because their pensions and benefits are self-sufficient. They are unable and unwilling to relocate. Communities will become smaller as older people die. It’s a sad situation, but I don’t see a solution. It’s a waste of time and money to try to regenerate them – they’ve outlived their usefulness.
Can you blame them?
One cannot blame communities whose lives have not improved and are seeking other alternatives, even if those alternatives do not solve their community problems.
In other words, it is Labour’s responsibility to improve their lives. As always, these issues are complex because some of these communities have established jobs and industry nearby, but this dependence has not yet been replaced. It’s not easy to do, but without the level of support needed to bring in new industry or invest in the high street, the ability to turn things around is very challenging. Combined with austerity, Brexit and Covid, these communities are in dire straits. Getting things started again takes time, it takes investment, it takes smart thinking. At the same time, populists are caught up in this dissatisfaction and they won’t do anything for these towns.
It’s too early to blame Labor
It’s too early to blame Labor. It does look like their policies are not working, but they still have to reverse the damage and lack of investment caused by 14 years of Tory rule.
I would give Labor a few more years to see if their tax increases and stimulus for the poorest and the public sector improve things. However, I worry that tax increases will dampen consumer spending and business confidence, worsen unemployment, and make things even worse.
Furthermore, the decline of our town centers seems to be completely ignored by the political class, but it is important, especially for the millions of people who live in these communities far away from the big cities and rely entirely on these shops and businesses. Politicians need to do more.
Despair helps drive to extremes
The right and left always excel in lagging areas. Hitler’s success was due in part to the German economy being affected by the Treaty of Versailles, which left many people living in poverty. Parties like Reform and the Greens have no real policies, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do well in elections because people desperately need solutions promised but never delivered by the left and right.
Wales’ real choice
The Gladers did win the Caerphilly by-election, beating both the Reform Party and Labour, so immigration was clearly not an issue as the Gladers were the most pro-immigration party in the country. The real choice for Wales is between those who want to destroy the Labour-Tory system and those who want to abandon Westminster altogether through independence.
People are just tired of broken promises, mismanagement and lack of investment. Industrial regions like South Wales create a lot of wealth for the country, but the profits are constantly being siphoned off, leaving nothing to reinvest. You only have to look at countries like Germany, Japan and China to see what would happen if that money was reinvested. Allowing our industrial base to die is a crime, and Labor is as guilty as the Conservatives.
No interest in governing for the people
They never learn, do they? By the end of 2020, Wales had lost £680m in EU funding flows. Wales has been a big supporter of Brexit, as has Farage.
Those who now say they plan to vote for Farage if he wins this year’s election in Wales – you can hardly argue he runs a party – would do well to look at how areas with Reform MPs fared. They have no experience and in some cases appear to have no interest in governing for the people.
Shockingly incompetent
So the Conservatives were economically incompetent and cruel and implemented austerity for 15 years, while Labor continued to implement austerity to protect big business and the wealthy people who financed it.
At the same time, reforms attracted to their ranks all the worst of those responsible for austerity and national chaos.
Reform performed very well in the last local elections and have a good chance of showing what life will be like after they take power. What we see, without exception, is people who have no idea what they are doing, wasted money, and are incompetent to an alarming – if not unexpected – degree.
Frankly, anyone who votes for reform is fully worthy of everything they have to offer.
Populism thrives on fear, not solutions
History tells us that when populist movements arise, they often target groups they label as “problem.”
The names change, but the pattern is always the same.
Today, figures like Nigel Farage in the UK and Donald Trump in the US use the same tools and new technologies. The message is simple: they are taking what is yours, and only a strong leader can protect you.
The details don’t matter; often, there is no policy at all. What matters is that emotion, fear and anger are packaged into slogans or memes. If history shows one thing, it’s that populist rage burns brightly but is rarely well governed.
Some comments in this article have been edited for brevity and clarity.
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