Overview

• On Monday in Port Talbot, Nigel Farage pledged to reopen blast furnaces shut in September 2024 as a “long-term ambition” for traditional steelmaking and signalled openness to nationalisation if needed
• Reform UK announced plans to restart select south Wales coal pits to power steel production despite warnings that high costs, technical obstacles and environmental concerns may render the project unviable
• Former chairman Zia Yusuf rescinded his resignation after 48 hours citing exhaustion and will now spearhead the party’s “UK Doge” efficiency unit while endorsing a pledge to deport every illegal immigrant in Britain
• Farage is recruiting external candidates as potential ministers and has reorganised senior roles by splitting the chairmanship into new and deputy positions to shore up Reform’s credentials as an alternative government
• Recent polling places Reform UK second in Wales with 25% support and follows its capture of over a quarter of the vote in a Scottish by-election, bolstering its challenge to Labour’s 26-year Welsh dominance