Left-wing parties would block Reform Welsh government – Drakeford

Mark Drakeford, the former First Minister of Wales, has stated that left-leaning parties would unite to prevent Reform UK from leading the next Welsh government, even if Reform secures the highest number of seats in the upcoming Senedd election on 7 May. This statement comes amid polls indicating that Reform UK is vying with Plaid Cymru for the position of the largest party. Given that neither party is projected to command a majority, it is anticipated that coalition negotiations will be necessary to form a government and determine the nominee for first minister.

Drakeford expressed his view during an interview on the Politics Wales programme, emphasizing that most voters in Wales are likely to support parties on the left. He described the forthcoming political challenge as ensuring collaboration among these parties to establish a stable and progressive administration. While any party can put forward a candidate for first minister after the election, a nominee must receive a majority of votes in the Senedd to succeed. Drakeford said, “I don’t believe for a moment that a Reform nominee would be endorsed by the Senedd because I think that next Senedd will have three-quarters or two-thirds of its members who do not share the views of that party.”

When addressing concerns that left-wing parties might be seen as obstructing Reform UK, Drakeford argued that the votes cast by the left-wing representatives would reflect the preferences of their electorates and that they would simply be exercising their democratic mandate. Reform’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas criticized the establishment parties’ intentions, claiming, “The establishment parties will do absolutely anything they can to stop real people from having a seat at the table and having their voices heard.” He further urged voters saying, “This May, it’s time to send them a message that hardworking Welsh men and women will no longer be ignored.”

Drakeford has been a prominent figure in Welsh politics for decades, initially serving as a senior adviser to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan before becoming a member of the National Assembly (now the Welsh Parliament or Senedd) in 2011. Over 15 years, he has held multiple senior roles and led the country as first minister from 2018 to 2024, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when he regularly briefed the public through televised press conferences. Reflecting on Welsh Labour’s polling struggles leading up to his departure, he remarked, “There’s no doubt that every time you win an election the hill gets steeper the next time.” He acknowledged the electorate’s desire for change, noting, “‘Time for a change’ is a very potent slogan in politics.” However, he also highlighted his acceptance of responsibility and recalled that his party’s 2021 election outcome defied predictions by achieving its best-ever result despite pessimistic polls

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