𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A Welsh town that is a Labour heartland is set to be rocked by the upcoming elections. Wales could be set to change its political landscape, with Reform UK and Plaid Cymru now competing to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament. And, if polling is accurate, the elections held on May 7 could bring an end to Labour’s 27-year grip on the Welsh government, including in Merthyr Tyfdil.

Polling shows Labour’s vote share falling by more than half in Wales, enough to push the party into third place, with Reform and Plaid Cymru vying for first. While Reform did not win any Welsh seats in last year’s General Election, it did come second in 13 of the 32 constituencies.

Merthyr Tyfdil, the parliamentary constituency of Labour’s founder Keir Hardie, is a primary example of the party’s potential Welsh downfall. Located in South Wales, Merthyr Tydfil has a reputation for being a deprived town. The former mining area has low life expectancy, high unemployment, alcohol consumption issues and below-average education. In the last Senedd election in 2021, only 34.8% of people in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency went to vote.

And this time, they seem to be even more disillusioned. One local told The Times he would “rather go to Australia to live” as it’s “cheaper” and there is “not enough work” in Merthyr Tyfdil. While he usually does not vote, this year, he is “tempted” to opt for Reform.

Kim Thomas, 62, a foster carer, said she would be voting Reform for the first time.

She told The Times: “Labour haven’t sorted anything out and Plaid are for independence. I think we are all a United Kingdom and that is the way it should stay.”

The town’s youth is resonating with the calls for change.

A 17-year-old Zak told the BBC: “We are seeing the overturn of that sort of Labour Welsh order of this guarantee that Wales will always be Labour until the cows come home. I do think Labour takes it for granted with their traditional safe seats. These aren’t iron strongholds anymore of Labour.”

Aaron, also 17, added: “I’m seeing a lot of people who have been lifelong Labour supporters and they’ve now decided that they’re going to vote Reform or Plaid because Labour’s not in the best interests for people anymore in Wales.”

When Farage visited the town earlier this month, the streets became much busier, with people hailing the politician through shop windows and doorways. As WalesOnline reports, Farage then made his way up Merthyr Tydfil’s High Street. Lots of Merthyr locals were stopping him in the street for selfies, and each business owner that the celebrity politician spoke to echoed the hope that Reform will “save” their small businesses.