Are they revolting?

Founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party, advocating for a no-deal Brexit, it rebranded as Reform UK in early 2021. Seeking to bolster support from voters from de-industrialised towns across the United Kingdom, the party launched its right-wing populist manifesto in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. But does the party offer any policies specific to Wales?

Reform UK has pledged to spend £141bn if elected to government. Critics have voiced concerns that the party’s plans are deeply unserious and akin to Liz Truss’s ‘mini’ Budget3, which spoked the markets and resulted in mortgage price rises.


Business and tax

  • Take 20p off the at the pump fuel price to aid those living in rural Wales
  • Aid Welsh tourism through reintroducing VAT refunds from the Westminster Treasury for visitors from outside the UK


Immigration

  • Send illegal immigrants in Wales to camps set up on UK overseas territories


National Health Service

  • Introduce a mandatory private medical insurance scheme - this could open up the NHS for purchase by foreign healthcare companies


Environment

  • Reform would scape renewable energy subsidies and net zero targets - this would make Wales around £2.5bn poorer per year by 2050
  • Fast-track oil and gas projects, including shale gas in north Wales


Education

  • Give private schools, and parents who use them, further tax relief

Defence

  • Commitment to 3% of GDP on defence - this would further cut public services in Wales by 4% per person


Housing

  • Stop anyone born outside the UK from getting social housing - 1 in 6 of Wales’ workforce was born outside the UK


Policing

  • Bring 2,080 more police to the streets of Wales


Transport and Utilities

  • Place Wales’ water resources under the control of Westminster


Agriculture, Rural Life and Fisheries

  • Protect country sports: fishing, shooting and hunting
  • Increase the agricultural budget by £3bn per year and take away all environmental obligations on farmers
  • Enforce licencing of foreign fishing vessels in UK waters by placing Royal Navy patrols as a permanent deterrent


Constitutional Change and Heritage

  • Introduce a proportional system for electing the House of Commons
  • Make Saint David’s Day a national holiday for Wales
  • Take away public funding of S4C

Full Reform UK manifesto - https://www.reformparty.uk/policies

3 https://www.ft.com/content/4f4b2e8b-611f-4e2a-ae48-6270ef1fcd17
Ambition?
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A fair deal?
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Any real hope?
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A clear plan?
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