Legal Showdown: Reform UK's Social Media Drama with Labour Party

In a dramatic twist linked to the Caerphilly by-election, Reform UK has swiftly deleted social media posts after receiving a legal warning from the Labour Party. The letter, directed to Llŷr Powell, the party’s by-election candidate, accused Reform of unauthorized use of copyrighted images featuring Labour’s first minister and candidate Richard Tunnicliffe. Labour demanded the post’s removal within 24 hours, threatening further legal action if they failed to comply.

This incident is part of a larger legal tug-of-war; the previous week, Reform UK sent its own legal notice to Welsh Labour. This retaliation was in response to posts alleging a connection between Llŷr Powell and Russian President Vladimir Putin—a claim that Reform UK vehemently denies. Additionally, the party took issue with insinuations suggesting that former leader Nathan Gill had engaged in bribery.

As the Caerphilly by-election approaches on 23 October, tensions rise with candidates from various parties gearing up for a heated contest. Among them are familiar faces: Richard Tunnicliffe (Welsh Labour), Lindsay Whittle (Plaid Cymru), Gareth Potter (Welsh Conservatives), Gareth Hughes (Wales Green Party), Steven Aicheler (Welsh Liberal Democrats), Roger Quilliam (UKIP), and Anthony Cook (Gwlad). This scenario underscores the increasingly contentious environment in the lead-up to the elections, where every post and statement could hold significant implications.