Unmasking the Controversy: Darren Millar's Bold Take on Reform UK as a 'Personality Cult'

In a striking address at the Welsh Conservative conference in Llangollen, Tory Senedd leader Darren Millar criticized Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, labeling it a ”one-man personality cult” devoid of serious solutions for Wales. Millar emphasized the division between the Conservatives and Reform, branding them as lacking in real, costed, and deliverable solutions to pressing issues while boasting that Welsh Conservatives are a united team offering substantive answers instead of mere slogans.

Despite Reform UK’s popularity in recent polls, often ranking just behind Plaid Cymru and Labour, Millar argued that they have failed to articulate a comprehensive vision or leadership, demonstrated by their inability to select a main spokesperson. He defended the Conservative party as the credible alternative to the dominance of Labour in Wales, asserting that their longstanding alliance with Plaid Cymru has not served the interests of Welsh voters.

Millar’s speech served as a rallying cry to regain public trust, promising policies that would include the M4 Relief Road creation and a 1p cut in income tax by eliminating what he termed government waste. This included ending funding for foreign schemes and unnecessary climate conferences. Additionally, he outlined policies aimed at education reform such as the ban of mobile phones in schools and mandatory expulsion for students caught with knives.

While promoting the Conservative agenda, Millar did not shy away from labeling Labour failures as Plaid’s failures, and he asserted that his party would resist any attempts to separate Wales from the United Kingdom. As the party aims to solidify its position ahead of the 2026 elections, internal optimism mingles with uncertainty, as party members speculate on the implications of Reform UK’s potential self-destruction in the turbulent political landscape of Wales. The conference underscored the urgent and ongoing campaigns for political survival amidst shifting voter sentiments.