The party also says it would build an M4 relief road, upgrade the A55, and keep the NHS fully free
Nigel Farage and Dan Thomas will return to Newport to launch Reform UK’s Senedd election manifesto(Image: John Myers)
Reform has pledged to “put Wales first” by ditching international aid spending and prioritising Welsh people for social housing.
The party, set to launch its Senedd election manifesto in Newport on Thursday, is set to announce a series of policies including ditching default 20mph limits, building an M4 relief road, and scrapping Wales’ status as a Nation of Sanctuary.
Latest polling suggests Reform could be the biggest party in Cardiff Bay after the May 7 election with the party predicted to win 36 seats.
That would put them 10 seats ahead of nearest rivals Plaid Cymru – with Labour set to drop out of government in Wales for the first time since devolution. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
On the eve of the manifesto launch by would-be First Minister Dan Thomas, a former London councillor recently announced as the party’s Welsh leader, and Nigel Farage a party spokesman said a Reform-led administration would “implement key road upgrades including an M4 Relief Road and the A55”.
When the plan to scrap the default 20mph speed limit was first mooted Mr Thomas admitted he did not know what scrapping the policy would cost but said it would be “fully costed” by the time it appeared in the party’s manifesto.
Mr Thomas will also say the party would end international aid payments and “instead [spend] taxpayers’ cash in Wales” while they would also be “prioritising Welsh people for social housing”.
There will also be a “pledge to end the use of migrant hotels in Welsh communities and support the Welsh language” as well as a “suite of measures designed to ease cost of living pressures” includinga 5% council tax referendum limit, a review of business rates and a ‘tax lock’ pledge that promises not to introduce any fresh levies in Wales.
Mr Thomas is expected to promise the Welsh health service will always remain free and pledge to cut waiting lists, end so-called ‘corridor care’, and upgrade both hospitals and digital infrastructure.
The party also intend to “pledge to reform the Sustainable Farming Scheme to ‘let farmers farm’ and work with farmers to deliver a 10-year food strategy,” the spokesman added.
Reform has also previously said if ut wins enough votes to form a government it would introduce a new law, within its first 100 days in office, giving ministers specific powers to impose financial penalties on, or withdraw financial support for, universities which do not allow “free speech” on their campuses.
Mr Thomas said: “This manifesto is a blueprint for real change here in Wales.
“These promises put Wales and Welsh communities first and, unlike the pledges put forward by other parties, these are deliverable.
“Armed with this blueprint we have all the building blocks to end a generation of decline here in Wales.”
Mr Farage called the plans an “ambitious but realistic blueprint for government” and said the manifesto was “a serious plan to deliver the real change Wales deserves”.
He added: “I look forward to campaigning alongside Dan and the Welsh team between now and May 7.”
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