Nigel Farage's Reform UK party is embroiled in a racism controversy after a local election candidate publicly criticised a prominent party member over a social media post. The row threatens to destabilise the party's campaign in Wales, where the race is extremely tight.
Arron Banks' Controversial Post
Brexit financier Arron Banks, a key Reform supporter, sparked outrage after writing "Welsh lad?" in response to a video on X featuring a Black activist campaigning for Plaid Cymru. The businessman, who stood for Reform in a mayoral election last year, has faced accusations of racism from opposition parties, with Labour condemning the comment as "abhorrent racism."
James Evans, a Reform candidate, became the first party figure to label Banks' comment as racist. He told BBC Politics Wales: "Of course it's racist. He shouldn't be saying these things."
Banks' Defence and Party Reaction
Banks, who donated millions to the Leave campaign in the EU referendum, claimed his comment was a "joke" and accused Plaid Cymru of losing its "sense of humour." He told BBC Wales: "It was a joke. Plaid have understandably lost their sense of humour. Plaid always say that Wales is only for the Welsh, and anti-English."
Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts rejected his defence, warning: "Rolling out the banter defence once again. Racism is not a joke. Nigel Farage and Dan Thomas must condemn Arron Banks' comments."
Impact on Welsh Elections
The row threatens Reform's campaign in Wales, where polling shows Reform and Plaid Cymru are neck-and-neck to become the largest party in the next Welsh parliament. The result could be a major upset for Labour, which has held power in Wales since devolution in 1999 but is predicted to come third.
Banks stood for Reform in the West of England mayoral race last year but was defeated by Labour's Helen Godwin.
Farage's Response
Nigel Farage said last week that Banks should apologise for his comments, which were in "poor taste," but added that "people who keep on tweeting after a glass of wine make some blooming silly mistakes." When asked whether Banks should apologise, Farage told BBC Wales: "Yeah, he won't - he's Arron Banks." He noted that Banks is not a candidate, not Welsh, and has never given money to the party.
During a TV election debate, Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas did not directly distance himself from the comment, stating: "I've had my Welshness questioned by supporters of Plaid Cymru. They've called me a plastic Taffy because I happened to live in England. I've been called an English nationalist because I happen to be a member of Reform. I am Welsh through and through."
Reactions from Other Parties
A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: "Another flip-flop from Reform UK. There should be no qualms about calling out this abhorrent racism. Wales can't risk the community division that Reform brings."
A Welsh Conservatives spokesman added: "We welcome this acknowledgement from a Reform representative that the post was racist. Racism and hate have no place in our society, and we all have a duty to call it out whenever we see it."
The Wales Green Party commented: "If Arron Banks thinks it was a joke, it is a joke only racists would find funny, and it is a racist joke."
Reform UK declined to comment on the matter.
