Uncertainty Over Reform UK Candidates in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg
Derek Roberts was the second candidate on Reform UK's list for the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency.
It remains unclear who will represent Reform UK in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg for the upcoming Senedd election after three of their six candidates decided not to stand.
A Reform UK source confirmed that Derek Roberts, the party's second candidate on the list in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg, has chosen not to stand for "personal reasons"—reasons that have not yet been disclosed.
The party's sixth candidate, Owain Clatworthy, resigned in protest against the selection process.
Both decisions came to light following the announcement last week by Corey Edwards, the first candidate on the list, that he would not be standing.
Edwards made his decision after it emerged he appeared to be making a Nazi salute in a photograph.
Reform UK told the BBC they will submit a full list of candidates for the election scheduled for May 7.
The party has not announced who will replace the three candidates. Nominations close on April 9.
'Poor Internal Decisions'
To date, the party has lost four candidates across Wales within a week, with two withdrawing before Reform UK’s lists were published.
The two names on the list, Corey Edwards and Derek Roberts, were considered the strongest candidates likely to be elected for their party in the constituency.
A Reform UK source said Roberts, a former soldier, "stepped back for personal reasons but continues to represent veterans in his community."
Owain Clatworthy was selected as the sixth candidate on the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg list and was elected as a councillor in Pen-y-Bont last year.
He announced his departure from Reform UK in a social media post, stating that recent events, including "poor internal decisions, lack of discipline and serious concerns about candidate selection, made it clear to me that Reform UK no longer operates in a way that reflects the standards I believe the public deserve."
He accused the party of selecting individuals "with little connection to the communities they seek to represent."
Reform Candidate Withdraws After Nazi Salute Photo
Reform candidate appears to make Nazi salute in photo
Reform Candidate Leaves Amid Candidate Parachuting Debate
Speaking to BBC Cymru, Owain Clatworthy said:
"The country is in chaos and it's easy to complain, and I thought Reform was the answer.
From day one until now, the way I have been treated, as well as other members and councillors by the leadership team, has not been good."
"The party's candidate vetting process is poor – the photo of Edwards made me reconsider.
I cannot support a party that would be happy to endorse something like that.
It sends the wrong message and drew attention," he added, noting he was not concerned about being selected in the sixth position and had been happy to support the party.
Nigel Farage defended the photo of Edwards, claiming he was impersonating Basil Fawlty.
Edwards announced the following day his decision not to stand.
Under the new voting system, parties must submit lists of candidates for each of the 16 Senedd constituencies.
Last week, another candidate, Patrick Benham-Crosswell, announced he would not be standing.
His resignation followed two other candidates withdrawing from the race for the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency the day before Reform UK published their official candidate list.
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Previous Criticism of Candidate Vetting
In February, Reform Torfaen councillor Jason O'Connell, who has since been named as the party's number one candidate for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr in the Senedd election, described the party's vetting process as "ferocious" and "oppressive."
He told the BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement programme:
"Social media has been around for over 20 years now, and there is a lot of history there.
We have rejected some really good people on the basis that they might have said something a bit odd 10, 20 years ago.
We have lost the ability to attract them because, as I said, digital media lasts forever."
All major parties are expected to stand candidates in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg.
Full candidate lists are expected to be published after nominations close.
