By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 10:30 BST, 29 September 2025 | Updated: 11:06 BST, 29 September 2025
A Labour MP today claimed Nigel Farage wants to send Welsh people 'back down the mines' as the Government stepped up its attacks on Reform UK.Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, made the claim as she posted a video on social media urging voters not to back Reform at next year's Welsh Senedd elections.'If Nigel Farage had his way, you'd be back down the mines and our NHS, born here in Wales, would be sold off to the highest bidder,' she wrote on Twitter/X.It appeared to be a reference to Mr Farage's remarks earlier this year in which he set out Reform's bid to 'reindustrialise' Wales.He said Reform would allow coal to be mined in Wales as part of an ambition to reopen the Port Talbot steelworks.Mr Farage insisted he was 'not forcing people down pits' to mine for coal, but added: 'If you offer people well paid jobs many will take them, even though we all accept mining is dangerous.'At the time, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan questioned whether 'people in Wales want to see their grandchildren going back down the pits' as she attacked the 'nonsense' policy.In a speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool yesterday, Baroness Morgan of Ely launched a fresh assault on both Reform and Plaid Cymru.A Labour MP has claimed Nigel Farage wants to send Welsh people 'back down the mines' as the Government stepped up its attacks on Reform UK Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, made the claim as she posted a video on social media urging voters not to back Reform at next year's Welsh Senedd electionsShe warned that Wales would 'fall into chaos' if either party wins the Senedd election in May.'Let's be brutally honest, the polls are not looking good,' the First Minister told Labour members on Sunday.'People are angry. They're disillusioned. Our voice, the voice that's always fought for them, is getting drowned out by the carnival of charlatans and the circus of snake oil salesmen.'Now Reform blames foreigners, Plaid blame Westminster – divisive nationalism in different forms.'Different poison, same bottle – all with answers that sound brilliant until you ask how: They can't tell you.'Baroness Morgan claimed Reform were 'polishing their wrecking balls' and planned to 'flog and frack everything that moves' and 'turn Wales into their testing ground for an ideology that puts profits before people'.She said: 'Wales doesn't need fantasy politics. Mark my words, Wales will fall into chaos if either Plaid or Reform wins in May.'What we need is experience and stability in an age of instability, and that's what Welsh Labour can offer.'So conference, are we going to stand here and let vultures tear the heart out of all we've built?'Welsh Labour holds a narrow lead in the Senedd and is facing a crucial by-election in Caerphilly next month following the death of Hefin David.
