‘I’ve never felt so unwelcome in my own hometown as I do since your party came into Caerphilly’
An audience member confronted Reform candidate Llŷr Powell over the party’s anti-migrant rhetoric during a BBC debate last night, ahead of next week’s Senedd by-election in Caerphilly.
The woman, attending with her son, told Powell that her son’s father “is part of the 2.9% that you say are overtaking Caerphilly.”
Her comments came after one of her sons, Cole, asked Powell to explain how immigration was a problem in the town, given local levels of immigration are 2.9%.
He challenged Powell for failing to answer the question, pointing out that he had only talked about immigration outside Caerphilly.
The lady went on to say: “We’ve lived here all our lives and I have never felt so unwelcome in my own hometown as I do since your party came into Caerphilly with all the rhetoric that you bring in.”
She added: “I have to say to my sons, please don’t go there, please don’t do this and quite frankly Mr Powell, I blame you for that.”
In response the Reform by-election candidate, said: “I speak about immigration as a policy…”
The woman interrupted, “We’re not policies, you’re talking about human beings.”
“Well it is, it’s a government policy,” Powell said. The lady repeated: “You’re talking about human beings.
“You don’t treat them like human beings.”
Powell replied: “It’s the same as if I’m talking about education, I’m not talking about the teachers, I’m not talking about the students, it’s bad policy.
“The level of immigration we’ve got coming in right now to the United Kingdom is too high.”
The woman reminded Powell that she lives in Caerphilly, where immigration is 2.9%: “My son asked you about Caerphilly.”
Powell simply said: “That is in the United Kingdom.”
He added that Caerphilly doesn’t set its immigration policy, Westminster does, before admitting that immigration is not devolved, meaning Senedd members do not legislate on it.
“I’m asking you about Caerphilly,” the woman repeated.
Reform leader Nigel Farage posted a clip of Powell speaking in the debate, with the caption: “A solid performance from @LlyrPowell”.
It seems he didn’t see the clip where Powell was slammed for his party’s divisive anti-migrant rhetoric.
Powell worked for the now disgraced former MEP Nathan Gill, who recently pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery for making pro-Russia statements in the European Parliament.
He was a constituency caseworker for Gill when he was an MEP, but won’t disclose the exact dates when he worked for him.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward doesn't have the backing of big business or billionaires. We rely on the kind and generous support of ordinary people like you.
You can support hard-hitting journalism that holds the right to account, provides a forum for debate among progressives, and covers the stories the rest of the media ignore. Donate today.