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Will Hayward

@WillHayCardiff • 33,032 subscribers

Multi award-winning investigative journalist & author focussing on Wales. Follow my newsletter for updates on what is happening in Wales

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Nigel Farage has called Welsh people “Foreign speakers” in a Cameo video. I hate to break it to you Mr Farage, but if you read a history book you would realise English is more foreign in the UK than Welsh. He said: “Gutted I couldn’t attend the wedding. I wanted to come, but I heard that half the guests were Welsh, and I don’t know. Who knows what would have happened with all those foreign speakers there. I don’t know.” This is at a time that his party are trying to convince people in Wales that they should elect them to the Welsh Parliament. Big credit to the Guardian for breaking this story:

Nigel Farage has called Welsh people “Foreign speakers” in a Cameo video. I hate to break it to you Mr Farage, but if you read a history book you would realise English is more foreign in the UK than Welsh. He said: “Gutted I couldn’t attend the wedding. I wanted to come, but I heard that half the guests were Welsh, and I don’t know. Who knows what would have happened with all those foreign speakers there. I don’t know.” This is at a time that his party are trying to convince people in Wales that they should elect them to the Welsh Parliament. Big credit to the Guardian for breaking this story:

241,323 views

Big crowd of reporters and supporters down the Bay for Rhun ap Iorwerth and the new Plaid Cymru MSs. Wales’ next Government and the first one not led by Labour.

Big crowd of reporters and supporters down the Bay for Rhun ap Iorwerth and the new Plaid Cymru MSs. Wales’ next Government and the first one not led by Labour.

17,406 views

Welsh Tory leader just stood up in the Senedd and said he "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion." It's worth noting that one of his parties flagship policies in Wales is to abolish the Nation of Sanctuary which is overwhelmingly aimed at supporting Ukrainian refugees.

Welsh Tory leader just stood up in the Senedd and said he "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion." It's worth noting that one of his parties flagship policies in Wales is to abolish the Nation of Sanctuary which is overwhelmingly aimed at supporting Ukrainian refugees.

28,212 views

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Reform are having a mare inside the Welsh Parliament. Senedd Member Gareth Beer seemingly forgot he had asked a question then didn't bother preparing a follow up. You can see him looking panicked at Reform's chief whip. Mr Beer is being paid over £80,000 a year to ask these questions and hold the Welsh Government to account.

Reform are having a mare inside the Welsh Parliament. Senedd Member Gareth Beer seemingly forgot he had asked a question then didn't bother preparing a follow up. You can see him looking panicked at Reform's chief whip. Mr Beer is being paid over £80,000 a year to ask these questions and hold the Welsh Government to account.

83,606 views • 1 day ago

Senedd Members walk out of the Welsh Parliament in protest at comments made by a Reform MS. Joe Martin MS “jokes” about Welsh kids not being able to read. In the wider clips that we will share in the newsletter you can see some of his fellow Reform MSs laughing along while others are clearly uncomfortable. Wales has some deep rooted problems that require seriousness, nuance and real political leadership to fix. Proper opposition is vital. What we don’t need is the smugly delivered political equivalent to the worst best man speech you’ve ever read seen.

Senedd Members walk out of the Welsh Parliament in protest at comments made by a Reform MS. Joe Martin MS “jokes” about Welsh kids not being able to read. In the wider clips that we will share in the newsletter you can see some of his fellow Reform MSs laughing along while others are clearly uncomfortable. Wales has some deep rooted problems that require seriousness, nuance and real political leadership to fix. Proper opposition is vital. What we don’t need is the smugly delivered political equivalent to the worst best man speech you’ve ever read seen.

372,601 views • 15 days ago

"I would rather w**k with a razor". Pretty clear response from bloke in Wales when asked if he would consider voting Reform... The man from Reform (who took it in good spirits tbf) is Zak Weaver, a former Tory staffer who defected in February.

"I would rather w**k with a razor". Pretty clear response from bloke in Wales when asked if he would consider voting Reform... The man from Reform (who took it in good spirits tbf) is Zak Weaver, a former Tory staffer who defected in February.

306,668 views • 2 months ago

When Reform supporters are presented with Reform's policies they often don't like them. This interview my newsletter carried out in Caerphilly sums up why Reform are so hesitant to announce real policies. Once they have policies, they can be scrutinised. Far better for Reform to just use vague phrases than actual commitments.

When Reform supporters are presented with Reform's policies they often don't like them. This interview my newsletter carried out in Caerphilly sums up why Reform are so hesitant to announce real policies. Once they have policies, they can be scrutinised. Far better for Reform to just use vague phrases than actual commitments.

706,357 views • 8 months ago

Reform UK has a big problem in Wales. It's going to be really hard for them to grow because they are very unpopular with three groups in Wales: 1. Women (who make up 51% of voters) 2. People who feel more Welsh than British (the single largest identity group in Cymru) 3. Young people. While a narrative has grown up around the idea that young men really like Farage. The data suggests this really isn't the case in Wales as only 10% of young people voted for the party.

Reform UK has a big problem in Wales. It's going to be really hard for them to grow because they are very unpopular with three groups in Wales: 1. Women (who make up 51% of voters) 2. People who feel more Welsh than British (the single largest identity group in Cymru) 3. Young people. While a narrative has grown up around the idea that young men really like Farage. The data suggests this really isn't the case in Wales as only 10% of young people voted for the party.

41,215 views • 24 days ago

Reform politicians just did something really strange inside the Welsh Parliament/Senedd. 11 of Reform's 34 MS voted AGAINST their own party. The Senedd was debating Plaid's childcare offer and a Plaid politician added an amendment saying that "the Senedd notes that Reform UK had no commitments on childcare in its Welsh manifesto" and that "providing access to childcare would reduce child poverty in Wales". A third of Reform's politicians voted for this. Basically they voted in favour of a motion saying they had no plan for childcare. We asked the party why they did this but they wouldn't respond. I strongly suspect that the 11 who voted against their own party either didn't understand the motion or accidentally voted the wrong way...

Reform politicians just did something really strange inside the Welsh Parliament/Senedd. 11 of Reform's 34 MS voted AGAINST their own party. The Senedd was debating Plaid's childcare offer and a Plaid politician added an amendment saying that "the Senedd notes that Reform UK had no commitments on childcare in its Welsh manifesto" and that "providing access to childcare would reduce child poverty in Wales". A third of Reform's politicians voted for this. Basically they voted in favour of a motion saying they had no plan for childcare. We asked the party why they did this but they wouldn't respond. I strongly suspect that the 11 who voted against their own party either didn't understand the motion or accidentally voted the wrong way...

26,972 views • 21 days ago

Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media. Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊 It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd." I have no idea what to say.

Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media. Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊 It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd." I have no idea what to say.

244,894 views • 8 months ago

I tried to get Nigel Farage to give any detail on how Reform would fix the Welsh NHS. I failed. When you try and get details on big claims it seems to fall apart. If you value this journalism, please do help fund it. Sign up to the news letter in the pinned tweet. Full interview in news letter tomorrow.

I tried to get Nigel Farage to give any detail on how Reform would fix the Welsh NHS. I failed. When you try and get details on big claims it seems to fall apart. If you value this journalism, please do help fund it. Sign up to the news letter in the pinned tweet. Full interview in news letter tomorrow.

489,251 views • 1 year ago

No one seems to be talking about the fact Reform didn't have the result they hoped for in the Welsh election. They fell well short of what they said they'd get. They only got 29% of the vote. You can't be the voice of the people if over 70% of the people demonstrably don't want you to be their voice. Why do you think Farage didn't show up? He doesn't want to be associated with falling short. We saw this when they lost in Caerphilly last year, he was no where to be seen.

No one seems to be talking about the fact Reform didn't have the result they hoped for in the Welsh election. They fell well short of what they said they'd get. They only got 29% of the vote. You can't be the voice of the people if over 70% of the people demonstrably don't want you to be their voice. Why do you think Farage didn't show up? He doesn't want to be associated with falling short. We saw this when they lost in Caerphilly last year, he was no where to be seen.

53,544 views • 1 month ago

A huge poll has just dropped in Welsh Politics. The poll from YouGov/Cardiff University suggests votes in the Senedd election will be: - Plaid Cymru - 33% - Reform UK - 30% - Labour - 10% - Conservatives - 10% - Green - 9% - Lib Dem - 6% In terms of seats it would mean: Plaid Cymru - 39 Reform UK - 34 Labour - 10 Conservatives - 6 Green - 4 Lib Dem - 3 This is absolutely damning for Labour. For detailed analysis check out the full break down in my news letter (see pinned tweet)

A huge poll has just dropped in Welsh Politics. The poll from YouGov/Cardiff University suggests votes in the Senedd election will be: - Plaid Cymru - 33% - Reform UK - 30% - Labour - 10% - Conservatives - 10% - Green - 9% - Lib Dem - 6% In terms of seats it would mean: Plaid Cymru - 39 Reform UK - 34 Labour - 10 Conservatives - 6 Green - 4 Lib Dem - 3 This is absolutely damning for Labour. For detailed analysis check out the full break down in my news letter (see pinned tweet)

143,299 views • 6 months ago

Reform keeps arguing that immigration is an issue when it isn’t. There is a by-election right now in Caerphilly and Nigel Farage’s party keeps saying that immigration is an issue there. BUT over 97% percent of people in the area were born in the UK. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to be unhappy over the state of public services in the area, but it’s not down to immigration. We need to start debating based on facts not scaremongering.

Reform keeps arguing that immigration is an issue when it isn’t. There is a by-election right now in Caerphilly and Nigel Farage’s party keeps saying that immigration is an issue there. BUT over 97% percent of people in the area were born in the UK. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to be unhappy over the state of public services in the area, but it’s not down to immigration. We need to start debating based on facts not scaremongering.

184,423 views • 9 months ago

Right I have gone through the latest 20mph data for Wales and have made this video. However, I know many of you prefer a thread so I've done that as well. Long story short, 20mph seems to be working VERY well and is already paying for itself. [Thread]

Right I have gone through the latest 20mph data for Wales and have made this video. However, I know many of you prefer a thread so I've done that as well. Long story short, 20mph seems to be working VERY well and is already paying for itself. [Thread]

410,298 views • 1 year ago

For the many, many people who don’t actually follow Welsh politics, it can be hard to understand the situation with our First Minister Vaughan Gething. To help explain I made this video about what’s going on in Wales. (Bear with me, I’m trained to write not to speak)

For the many, many people who don’t actually follow Welsh politics, it can be hard to understand the situation with our First Minister Vaughan Gething. To help explain I made this video about what’s going on in Wales. (Bear with me, I’m trained to write not to speak)

411,499 views • 2 years ago

Wales produces less that 0.1% of world greenhouse gas emissions so why should we bother trying to reach net zero? Well, actually there are loads of reasons. Don't let politicians funded by fossil fuel companies con you into into apathy towards the scientific fact that is man-made climate change.

Wales produces less that 0.1% of world greenhouse gas emissions so why should we bother trying to reach net zero? Well, actually there are loads of reasons. Don't let politicians funded by fossil fuel companies con you into into apathy towards the scientific fact that is man-made climate change.

25,465 views • 1 month ago

If you vote in the Welsh elections based on immigration, you are wasting your vote. The Welsh Parliament has NO CONTROL over immigration. It’s like ordering Deliveroo because your boiler has broken. One has no power to fix the other. I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about immigration as an issue, but electing people based on an issue they have no power to address makes no sense.

If you vote in the Welsh elections based on immigration, you are wasting your vote. The Welsh Parliament has NO CONTROL over immigration. It’s like ordering Deliveroo because your boiler has broken. One has no power to fix the other. I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about immigration as an issue, but electing people based on an issue they have no power to address makes no sense.

39,353 views • 2 months ago

My news letter was in Caerphilly ahead of the by-election. One Reform supporter told us that he supports Nigel Farage because he will "get us out from under the heel of the Americans" and "remember our Protestant" heritage.

My news letter was in Caerphilly ahead of the by-election. One Reform supporter told us that he supports Nigel Farage because he will "get us out from under the heel of the Americans" and "remember our Protestant" heritage.

125,893 views • 8 months ago

I was recently on a panel with a senior Welsh Reform politician and we were asked about devolving the Crown Estate. He said that Wales shouldn't have more powers because "we are not very good in Wales at being efficient in running things". There are a few points I would make about the comment: 1. There are legitimate arguments for not devolving the Crown Estate. I chronicle them in my book. I do on balance believe it would be better for Wales if it was devolved (or at least the money from it was sent directly to Wales) but it is not inherently “anti-Wales” to be hesitant about the devolution of the Crown Estate. 2. However, the argument that “we are not very good in Wales at being efficient” is one of the most infantile descriptions of a nation I have ever heard, especially coming from a man/party who claimed they wanted to lead that nation. The idea that Wales and the Welsh are uniquely incapable of running something illustrates a level of self-hate and lack of confidence that we need to shed. It’s a narrative that holds us back more than almost anything. 3. Nothing says “I don’t think we will ever run the Welsh Government” like this statement. If Reform really believed they would one day have the levers of government at their disposal, they wouldn’t be so quick to deny Wales having them.

I was recently on a panel with a senior Welsh Reform politician and we were asked about devolving the Crown Estate. He said that Wales shouldn't have more powers because "we are not very good in Wales at being efficient in running things". There are a few points I would make about the comment: 1. There are legitimate arguments for not devolving the Crown Estate. I chronicle them in my book. I do on balance believe it would be better for Wales if it was devolved (or at least the money from it was sent directly to Wales) but it is not inherently “anti-Wales” to be hesitant about the devolution of the Crown Estate. 2. However, the argument that “we are not very good in Wales at being efficient” is one of the most infantile descriptions of a nation I have ever heard, especially coming from a man/party who claimed they wanted to lead that nation. The idea that Wales and the Welsh are uniquely incapable of running something illustrates a level of self-hate and lack of confidence that we need to shed. It’s a narrative that holds us back more than almost anything. 3. Nothing says “I don’t think we will ever run the Welsh Government” like this statement. If Reform really believed they would one day have the levers of government at their disposal, they wouldn’t be so quick to deny Wales having them.

19,756 views • 29 days ago

"Mike's on his phone, Mike couldn't care less. It makes me want to cry" Ooof. Representative from Covid bereaved families group calls out Welsh Labour politician for being on his phone "all the way through" their discussion about Covid response in Wales. More in today's news letter (see pinned tweet).

"Mike's on his phone, Mike couldn't care less. It makes me want to cry" Ooof. Representative from Covid bereaved families group calls out Welsh Labour politician for being on his phone "all the way through" their discussion about Covid response in Wales. More in today's news letter (see pinned tweet).

95,572 views • 6 months ago

Reform UK have manufactured an argument with a Welsh university. They contacted a student group at Bangor University (who are separate to the Uni) asking them to hold an event for them. When the group said "no" Reform threatened to cut their funding. This is totally manufactured faux outrage. It is the equivalent of me going up to someone and saying: “please can you host a party and can I come?” Them saying “no I don’t like you” and me saying that I am going to take their money away. Reform have repeatedly dodged interviews with journalists in Wales. They banned certain journalists from councils they run in England. I would suggest this makes this sudden desire to protect free speech nothing more than hypocritical opportunism.

Reform UK have manufactured an argument with a Welsh university. They contacted a student group at Bangor University (who are separate to the Uni) asking them to hold an event for them. When the group said "no" Reform threatened to cut their funding. This is totally manufactured faux outrage. It is the equivalent of me going up to someone and saying: “please can you host a party and can I come?” Them saying “no I don’t like you” and me saying that I am going to take their money away. Reform have repeatedly dodged interviews with journalists in Wales. They banned certain journalists from councils they run in England. I would suggest this makes this sudden desire to protect free speech nothing more than hypocritical opportunism.

64,277 views • 4 months ago

"I have heard a lot off my friends and I am voting Farage" My news letter was out speaking to people in Wales again. When it comes to influencing how people will vote in May's election, a lot of attention is put on social media. But conversations with friends and family can make a huge difference to how people perceive politics and issues. I thought it is interesting the amount of people who say they are voting "Farage" rather than "Reform". Mr Farage's personal profile is a huge motivating factor for many voters.

36,616 views • 2 months ago