Reform faces formal complaint of 'false and misleading' statements

MEMBERS of the Ukrainian community have submitted a formal complaint accusing Reform UK of disinformation ahead of next week's Senedd by-election in Caerphilly.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

Ukrainian refugee Vira Mandrika has made a new life in Caerphilly with her Welsh partner

The complaint, submitted to Caerphilly council’s returning officer, accuses the party of publishing on its election material “false and misleading” statements about Welsh Labour's Nation of Sanctuary scheme.

Leading members of the community said that the Nation of Sanctuary and immigration has become a central focus of Reform’s campaign, with opposition to the scheme often being at the forefront of leaflets hitting people’s doormats.

It’s been “tough emotionally’, one woman said.

It comes after First Minister Eluned Morgan accused Reform UK and the Conservatives of using her government's support for Ukrainian refugees to “whip up division” in Wales by campaigning on immigration in an area which has some of the fewest residents born outside the UK in Wales, with only 2.9% of people born outside of the UK, according to the last census.

Vira Mandrika, 47, is one of the Ukrainians who now call Caerphilly their second home that has been angered by Reform’s election material.

Ms Mandrika lives in Bedwas with her Welsh partner and came to the UK just over a year ago on a Homes for Ukraine visa, one of around 227,000 brought to the UK, of whom some 8,000 have settled in Wales.

Back in Ukraine, Ms Mandrika held a managerial position in a major company and since moving to the UK has secured part-time job as a sales advisor, a job she said she was helped to get by the scheme.

“We as the Ukrainian community want to explain what this scheme actually is and how important it is to be supported. We feel that Reform are misrepresenting the scheme as a problem to Welsh society,” she said.