Farage says ‘give us time’ as he starts campaign in Wales

Following his speech in Port Talbot yesterday, Nigel Farage spoke to Western Mail Political editor Ruth Mosalski

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REFORM UK leader Nigel Farage has started the campaign for next year’s Senedd election, saying he believes his party will win enough votes to govern Wales.

At a private event for select party members and journalists, he was asked about his plans for the party, who it would put forward to be First Minister, and for detail on the pledges he announced ahead of the visit - many in an opinion piece penned for our sister website WalesOnline and printed on page 19 of today’s paper.

In that, he wrote: “We have said and say again that we think it’s better to use British coal for British steel than imported coal. Which is why we would allow coal, if suitable, to be mined in Wales as part of Reform’s long-term ambition to reopen the Port Talbot Steelworks, but we know this will not be quick or easy.”

He also wrote: “We would end funding to the Wales Refugee Council”.

Western Mail: “Right now you haven’t yet got a leader in Wales. If you take seats you're going to need one. What are your plans?”

Nigel Farage: “Right now, at the minute, I’m the leader of the national party. I’m here in Wales, as I've just been in England in the local elections. Today, we've opened up the candidates, for policy processes. We're just getting going really... really just getting going in Wales. So please give me time. And that leadership figure in Wales will emerge.”

WM: You were here a few months ago [November] and you asked for time. What is your timeline? When when can we start asking that question and get an answer?