'I felt like change was needed' - why town has turned to Reform

REFORM UK hasn't quite parked its tanks in Llanelli but it's been on manoeuvres and already come away with a council by-election victory.

- RICHARD YOULE

Just over a fortnight ago Reform UK's Michelle Beer won a vacant Lliedi seat by a stretch, defeating Welsh Labour in what has been solid Labour territory going by the 2022, 2017 and 2012 council elections. She is Reform UK's first Carmarthenshire councillor.

At last summer's general election Labour incumbent Nia Griffith held onto the Llanelli seat with 31.3% of the vote but Reform UK's Gareth Beer - Michelle's husband - wasn't a million miles away in second place with a 27.6% share. Reform UK, it seems, aren’t going anywhere.

A YouGov/ITV Wales poll last month had Plaid Cymru leading the race for the Seneedd in 2026 with 30% of the vote, followed by Reform UK in second on 25%. Labour were third with 18%.

Bellwether voter Stella Bartlett, of Lliedi, voted for Labour's Ms Griffith last July and for Reform UK’s Mrs Beer on May 29.

Asked about the switch, she said: “It was because of what’s happening with Labour - they say one thing and do another. It was the way they took off money for winter fuel, and now they're going to put it back, but not all of it.

“It’s the cuts and putting national insurance up for the workers which they shouldn’t be doing. My granddaughter is a care worker and does a lot of overtime. When it comes to her pay, the tax is unbelievable.”