Nigel Farage has dismissed speculation that he will stand as a candidate in the 2026 Senedd election, despite persistent rumours circulating around Cardiff Bay in recent weeks.
The Reform UK leader confirmed during an extended interview on ITV Cymru Wales’ Sharp End that he will not be seeking a seat in the Welsh Parliament, stating that doing so merely to qualify for televised debates would be “playing the game in the most cynical way”.
“I don’t intend to do that,” he said. “That would be playing the game in the most cynical way and I’m not going to do it.”
Though he has ruled himself out of standing, Farage insisted that Wales is now Reform UK’s primary political focus. The party saw notable gains in recent local elections across England, and Farage believes this momentum can be replicated in Wales.
In the lead-up to the 2026 Senedd election, scheduled for May next year, Farage said his party’s ambition is to win the most seats—despite confirming that he will not lead the Welsh campaign himself. He will, however, launch the campaign and support the party until a formal leader in Wales is selected.
Farage also hinted at potential defections from within the Senedd, although he emphasised his preference for bringing in fresh political voices.
“I think one or two people might be interested, we’ll see,” he said. “To be honest with you, what I’m really interested in is finding talent that can come in from people who’ve probably never been in politics before but want to give. You have to have some experience in there, of course you do. But do you know what the problem is with politics in this country, right across the UK? It’s become a career. It has become something you aspire to at university and what I want to see are people coming in from different walks of life.”
One figure who continues to draw attention in this context is Andrew RT Davies, who recently stepped down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives. While Davies has publicly ruled out any move to Reform UK, his positions on key issues—such as Brexit, the 20mph speed limit, and opposition to what he calls “wasteful” government spending—mirror Reform UK’s agenda.
“I’ve always found him a very interesting politician,” Farage commented. “And if he wants to have a chat over a cup of tea, I’d be happy to do it.”
Farage’s comments come against the backdrop of a dramatic shift in the Welsh political landscape. A recent Barn Cymru poll, conducted by YouGov for ITV Cymru Wales and Cardiff University, revealed Labour support has plummeted to its lowest point since devolution began. The poll showed Plaid Cymru rising to 30% in vote share, while Reform UK has surged to 25%.
Reflecting on the polling numbers, Farage said: “What you’ll find is a political class in Cardiff Bay pretty detached from the centre ground of public opinion, and I honestly believe that one of the reasons you’ve seen Reform surge in the way that it has in Wales—in terms of membership, in terms of activists, in terms of polling numbers—is far from being the nasty party. We’re actually reflecting what a majority of decent people think.”
As neither Reform UK nor Plaid Cymru are expected to win an outright majority, speculation is mounting over possible post-election coalitions. While Farage has been critical of the Conservatives in the past, he did not rule out the possibility of working with them in future.
“The Conservatives might barely exist after next year’s election,” he said. “They might not have more than three or four seats.”
The full interview with Nigel Farage can be watched on ITV Cymru Wales’ Sharp End, and is also available via ITVX.
