Reform UK Candidate Condemns Banks' Comment as Racist
A social media post by Arron Banks, a prominent member of Reform UK, was described as racist by James Evans, a Welsh election candidate for the party. Evans stated that the comment was inappropriate, becoming the first Reform figure to explicitly label it as racist.
Banks, known for his outspoken support of Reform UK, posted the phrase "Welsh lad?" on X in response to a Plaid Cymru video featuring a black community organiser in Cardiff.
Banks has not responded to a recent request for comment but had previously described the post as a "joke" and claimed that Plaid Cymru had "lost their sense of humour."
Plaid Cymru condemned the post, stating that "racism has no place in Wales or society."
Party leader Nigel Farage had earlier suggested that Banks should apologise for his "poor taste" post.
When questioned about the incident, James Evans told BBC Politics Wales:
"Of course it's racist. He shouldn't be saying these things."
Reform UK Leadership Responses
Dan Thomas, the Welsh leader of Reform UK, did not directly answer questions this week regarding whether he distanced himself from Banks' post on X. However, Thomas asserted that his party is not racist.
Thomas also shared his personal experience, saying:
"I've had my Welshness questioned by supporters of Plaid Cymru. They've called me a plastic Taffy because I happened to live in England."
Plaid Cymru responded to these remarks by stating:
"Arron Banks' comment was racist, yet Farage and his man in Wales, Dan Thomas, still refuse to say as such. Racism has no place in Wales or society anywhere, and we'll keep calling it out."
Political Reactions
A Welsh Labour spokesperson criticized Reform UK, stating:
"Another flip-flop from Reform UK. There should be no qualms about calling out this abhorrent racism. Wales can't risk the community division that Reform brings."
The Welsh Liberal Democrats, Wales Green Party, and the Welsh Conservatives have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded.
