Reform challenges parties to publish costings in Senedd election debate

Reform challenges parties to publish costings in Senedd election debate

Reform challenges other parties to cost their policies in heated Welsh election debate

Mark Palmer,Assistant editor, Wales politicsand
Adrian Browne,Wales political reporter
BBC The six party leaders and host Bethan Rhys Roberts standing at lecterns on the purple studio set with BBC election branding behind them.BBC
The ninety minute debate involved the leaders of the six largest parties

Reform has challenged all the main parties to publish the full costs of their promises to voters ahead of next week's Senedd election.

None of the six larger parties have released full details, with independent analysts criticising the lack of transparency on how manifesto pledges would be funded.

On BBC Wales' Your Voice Live: The Leaders' Debate Reform's Dan Thomas said he would publish his party's plans if the others followed suit.

Labour's Eluned Morgan and Darren Millar said they were prepared to, while Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said his party had published "many of the costings".

Green Anthony Slaughter said his party had revealed some costings while Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds said she would not as her plans were about "ambition".

Meanwhile four party leaders on the left ruled out working with Reform - but not each other.

Voters in Wales go to the polls on Thursday 7 May to elect 96 Senedd members from 16 constituencies.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says the in-coming Welsh government will face a severe financial squeeze, with day-to-day funding and investment growth slowing significantly.

The experts warn that many of the manifesto pledges by the parties will be likely to require tax rises or cuts to public services.

In the sometimes bad tempered live BBC1 TV debate, the calls for the leaders to fully publish their spending plans were greeted with a round of applause by the studio audience.

The leader of Reform UK in Wales, Dan Thomas, said he would publish his plans if the others would follow suit: "I challenge every leader on this panel to publish your costings.

"Ours are ready to go so we can have a full transparent election."

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said he was "quite happy" to answer questions on costings.

"And I'll tell you what, if everybody else publishes theirs I'll be very happy to publish ours."

The Welsh Labour leader and first minister said: "You know, I think it's all very transparent [Labour's pledges]. I'm happy to show you what we've got and listen to what we've go."

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "We have published many of the costings, because it's really important that people can see how we put together a programme for government."

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said some of his plans had been costed.

"So that's things like a rent freeze leading to rent controls," he said. "That's things like free bus travels for under 22s, £1 for everyone else."

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said she would not publish her spending plans.

"I am being as honest as I can and it's a no, because our manifesto is about ambition and aspiration," she said.

"We want to influence government, I'm not going to be first minister on the eighth of May."

In the debate, Reform's Dan Thomas was asked by presenter Bethan Rhys Roberts whether he "distanced" himself from a social media comment made by a prominent member of the party, Arron Banks, which sparked accusations of racism from Plaid Cymru.

Banks is not standing in the Senedd election and told BBC Wales that his comment was " a joke" adding that "Plaid have understandably lost their sense of humour".

Thomas did not respond directly but said: "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.

"I've been called an English nationalist, because I happen to be a member of Reform. I am Welsh through and through".

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth criticised Thomas' response: "Outright racism from a righthand man of Nigel Farage and Dan Thomas chooses to play the victim".

Four party leaders ruled out working with Reform

No party is expected to win a majority and some level of co-operation will be needed to form the next Welsh government - whether that's a coalition or something else that helps a government get its business through the Senedd.

Leaders of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Greens said they could not work with Nigel Farage's party - but did not rule out working with each other.

There were calls for parties on the left to work together to lock Reform out of power from former first minister Mark Drakeford earlier in the campaign.

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said Reform stood in "diametric opposition to all the values that I stand for".

Eluned Morgan said she did not think Labour had "enough in common" with Reform to be working with them.

Anthony Slaughter said the Greens will not work with "Reform or the Conservatives in any shape or form".

He said he agreed with comments by the UK leader that it would be a "relief" if Plaid did well in the election.

Jane Dodds said the Lib Dems would also not work with Reform or the Tories.

"We are willing to be a responsible partner to stop Reform UK trashing our services," she said.

Dan Thomas, leader of Reform, said they would work with any party "that will help deliver our manifesto".

He accused Labour and Plaid of stitching up the new voting system for the expanded Senedd "to make sure they end up in power one way or another".

Darren Millar also would not rule out working with Reform or any party, saying he would work with any party that could help deliver Tory policies like cutting income tax.

'Wales is crying out for change'

In his closing statement in the programme, Ap Iorwerth said that Wales "can't risk handing power to Nigel Farage.

"One party must be larger than Reform - that can only be Plaid Cymru."

Millar said "Plaid does not represent change" after keeping "Labour in power for decades".

The Welsh Conservatives offered "real change" and "positive change", he argued.

Dodds said she believed Wales is "better than the nasty politics that Reform UK want to import from Donald Trump's America".

"There are places up and down Wales where the Liberal Democrats are best place to stop at reform UK," she added.

Slaughter said "Wales is crying out for change" and that under the new voting system voting Green will get Greens.

"And every one of them will need one less Reform member, with their hatred and division," he said.

Thomas promised Reform would "unite Wales around our common sense policies and the principle of putting you, the people at home, first".

"Plaid Cymru will divide Cymru by pushing for independence, and we all know they will do a back room deal with Labour," he warned.

Morgan said "other parties want you to take a risk" but "Welsh Labour have a credible plan".

"Ask yourself, do Plaid Cymru's policies add up, is the NHS safe in reforms hands?"

A purple banner displaying the words "More on election 2026" beside a colourful pyramid shape in green, pink and blue.
#challenges #costings #election #parties #publish


Upprunaleg slóð:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r2w79n9w1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

📰 Aðrar fréttir

Starmer sees off Mandelson inquiry call - but he doesn't escape unscathed
📅 28.04.2026 21:54:08 👁️ 0

Starmer sees off Mandelson inquiry call - but he doesn't escape unscathed

#mandelson#unscathed#starmer#inquiry#escape
Horfir til betri vegar eftir „ófremdarástand“ í samgöngum til Vestmannaeyja
📅 28.04.2026 21:40:49 👁️ 1

Horfir til betri vegar eftir „ófremdarástand“ í samgöngum til Vestmannaeyja

#ófremdarástand#vestmannaeyja#samgöngum#horfir#betri
Vilja að vændiskaupendur séu nafngreindir og fái bréf heim
📅 28.04.2026 21:27:25 👁️ 0

Vilja að vændiskaupendur séu nafngreindir og fái bréf heim

#vændiskaupendur#nafngreindir#vilja#bréf#heim
Hita­veitur gætu orðið veru­leiki á Græn­landi - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 21:20:48 👁️ 0

Hita­veitur gætu orðið veru­leiki á Græn­landi - Vísir

#hitaveitur#veruleiki#grænlandi#orðið#vísir
Five takeaways from the King's historic address to US Congress
📅 28.04.2026 21:17:18 👁️ 1

Five takeaways from the King's historic address to US Congress

#takeaways#historic#congress#address#five
Oddvitaumræður í Garðabæ
📅 28.04.2026 21:10:10 👁️ 0

Oddvitaumræður í Garðabæ

#oddvitaumræður#garðabæ
Önnur ákæra gefin út á hendur James Comey
📅 28.04.2026 21:03:19 👁️ 1

Önnur ákæra gefin út á hendur James Comey

#hendur#önnur#ákæra#gefin#james
„Ég veit ekkert hve­nær þeir komast aftur heim“ - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 21:01:48 👁️ 0

„Ég veit ekkert hve­nær þeir komast aftur heim“ - Vísir

#ekkert#hvenær#komast#aftur#vísir
Mikilvægt að tryggja framboð af húsnæði með viðráðanlega leigu
📅 28.04.2026 20:46:09 👁️ 1

Mikilvægt að tryggja framboð af húsnæði með viðráðanlega leigu

#viðráðanlega#mikilvægt#tryggja#framboð#húsnæði
Bó kvaddur í hinsta sinn - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 20:38:43 👁️ 1

Bó kvaddur í hinsta sinn - Vísir

#kvaddur#hinsta#vísir#sinn
Tjaldapar með hreiður við hverinn á Laugarvatni
📅 28.04.2026 20:15:17 👁️ 1

Tjaldapar með hreiður við hverinn á Laugarvatni

#laugarvatni#tjaldapar#hreiður#hverinn
Rauða hverfi Reykjavíkur
📅 28.04.2026 20:15:10 👁️ 1

Rauða hverfi Reykjavíkur

#reykjavíkur#hverfi#rauða
Verðlagseftirlitið afturhvarf til fortíðar
📅 28.04.2026 19:34:18 👁️ 1

Verðlagseftirlitið afturhvarf til fortíðar

#verðlagseftirlitið#afturhvarf#fortíðar
Boða fjölgun flug­ferða á sama tíma og bátsferðir voru felldar niður - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 19:29:13 👁️ 1

Boða fjölgun flug­ferða á sama tíma og bátsferðir voru felldar niður - Vísir

#bátsferðir#flugferða#fjölgun#felldar#niður
Fella niður bátsferðir en fjölga flug­ferðum - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 19:29:13 👁️ 1

Fella niður bátsferðir en fjölga flug­ferðum - Vísir

#bátsferðir#flugferðum#fjölga#fella#niður
Gervigreind hjálpar en kemur ekki í staðinn fyrir starfsmenn sem eru látnir fara
📅 28.04.2026 19:13:20 👁️ 1

Gervigreind hjálpar en kemur ekki í staðinn fyrir starfsmenn sem eru látnir fara

#gervigreind#starfsmenn#hjálpar#staðinn#látnir
Vændi á Íslandi — „Teljum að þetta sé meirihlutinn skipulögð starfsemi“
📅 28.04.2026 19:00:18 👁️ 1

Vændi á Íslandi — „Teljum að þetta sé meirihlutinn skipulögð starfsemi“

#meirihlutinn#skipulögð#starfsemi#íslandi#teljum
Sýndi af sér lostugt athæfi á almannafæri og játaði aftur vörslur á miklu magni af barnaníðsteiknimyndum - DV
📅 28.04.2026 19:00:04 👁️ 1

Sýndi af sér lostugt athæfi á almannafæri og játaði aftur vörslur á miklu magni af barnaníðsteiknimyndum - DV

#barnaníðsteiknimyndum#almannafæri#lostugt#vörslur#athæfi
Telur orkukrísuna undirstrika nauðsyn þess að hætta notkun jarðefnaeldsneytis
📅 28.04.2026 18:49:18 👁️ 1

Telur orkukrísuna undirstrika nauðsyn þess að hætta notkun jarðefnaeldsneytis

#jarðefnaeldsneytis#orkukrísuna#undirstrika#nauðsyn#notkun
FCC to review Disney broadcast licenses after Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania Trump
📅 28.04.2026 18:49:15 👁️ 1

FCC to review Disney broadcast licenses after Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania Trump

#broadcast#licenses#melania#review#disney
MPs vote against inquiry into Starmer's claims on Mandelson vetting
📅 28.04.2026 18:48:48 👁️ 2

MPs vote against inquiry into Starmer's claims on Mandelson vetting

#mandelson#against#inquiry#starmer#vetting
Pílagrímaflug Air Atlanta á fullri ferð þrátt fyrir á­tök - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 18:48:34 👁️ 1

Pílagrímaflug Air Atlanta á fullri ferð þrátt fyrir á­tök - Vísir

#pílagrímaflug#atlanta#fullri#þrátt#fyrir
US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal pleads not guilty
📅 28.04.2026 18:35:10 👁️ 1

US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal pleads not guilty

#soldier#accused#betting#removal#maduro
Urðu fyrir von­brigðum með húsnæðispakka tvö - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 18:31:52 👁️ 1

Urðu fyrir von­brigðum með húsnæðispakka tvö - Vísir

#húsnæðispakka#vonbrigðum#fyrir#vísir#urðu
Flugferðum milli Eyja og Reykjavíkur fjölgað í tvær á dag
📅 28.04.2026 18:28:04 👁️ 1

Flugferðum milli Eyja og Reykjavíkur fjölgað í tvær á dag

#reykjavíkur#flugferðum#fjölgað#milli#eyja
Helstu augna­blikin úr út­för Björg­vins Hall­dórs­sonar - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 18:23:08 👁️ 1

Helstu augna­blikin úr út­för Björg­vins Hall­dórs­sonar - Vísir

#halldórssonar#augnablikin#björgvins#helstu#útför
Hnífstunga í heima­húsi í Ár­bæ - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 18:20:38 👁️ 1

Hnífstunga í heima­húsi í Ár­bæ - Vísir

#hnífstunga#heimahúsi#vísir#árbæ
Kvöddu þjóðargersemi með sögum og söng - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 18:19:44 👁️ 1

Kvöddu þjóðargersemi með sögum og söng - Vísir

#þjóðargersemi#kvöddu#sögum#vísir#söng
In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla on US state visit
📅 28.04.2026 18:10:58 👁️ 1

In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla on US state visit

#pictures#charles#camilla#queen#state
ESB-aðild sögð jákvæð fyrir stóru útgerðirnar
📅 28.04.2026 17:56:47 👁️ 1

ESB-aðild sögð jákvæð fyrir stóru útgerðirnar

#útgerðirnar#jákvæð#aðild#fyrir#stóru
Hlaut alvarlega áverka eftir hnífsstungu í Árbæ
📅 28.04.2026 17:42:36 👁️ 1

Hlaut alvarlega áverka eftir hnífsstungu í Árbæ

#hnífsstungu#alvarlega#áverka#hlaut#eftir
Icelandair tapaði 5,6 milljörðum á fyrsta ársfjórðungi
📅 28.04.2026 17:36:15 👁️ 1

Icelandair tapaði 5,6 milljörðum á fyrsta ársfjórðungi

#ársfjórðungi#icelandair#milljörðum#tapaði#fyrsta
Útvarpsstjarna í framboð - DV
📅 28.04.2026 17:30:13 👁️ 1

Útvarpsstjarna í framboð - DV

#útvarpsstjarna#framboð
More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on
📅 28.04.2026 17:22:29 👁️ 1

More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on

#expected#deaths#births#every#more
More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on, ONS projects
📅 28.04.2026 17:22:29 👁️ 0

More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on, ONS projects

#expected#projects#deaths#births#every
Upphafið að endalokum OPEC?
📅 28.04.2026 17:12:45 👁️ 1

Upphafið að endalokum OPEC?

#endalokum#upphafið#opec
Path cleared for Everest climbers after huge glacier blockage
📅 28.04.2026 16:59:47 👁️ 1

Path cleared for Everest climbers after huge glacier blockage

#climbers#blockage#cleared#everest#glacier
Einn skæðasti glæpa­maður Mexíkó gómaður í fráveituröri - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 16:58:27 👁️ 1

Einn skæðasti glæpa­maður Mexíkó gómaður í fráveituröri - Vísir

#fráveituröri#glæpamaður#skæðasti#gómaður#mexíkó
Játaði að hafa skipu­lagt hryðju­verk á tón­leikum Swift - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 16:47:32 👁️ 1

Játaði að hafa skipu­lagt hryðju­verk á tón­leikum Swift - Vísir

#hryðjuverk#skipulagt#tónleikum#játaði#swift
Björgvin Halldórsson jarðsunginn
📅 28.04.2026 16:45:30 👁️ 1

Björgvin Halldórsson jarðsunginn

#halldórsson#jarðsunginn#björgvin
The most remote and unspoilt beach in Spain is in the Canary Islands
📅 28.04.2026 16:44:00 👁️ 1

The most remote and unspoilt beach in Spain is in the Canary Islands

#unspoilt#islands#remote#canary#beach
„Það er bara klöppin og stórgrýtið eftir“
📅 28.04.2026 16:39:27 👁️ 1

„Það er bara klöppin og stórgrýtið eftir“

#stórgrýtið#klöppin#eftir#bara
US special relationship is 'probably Israel', says UK ambassador
📅 28.04.2026 16:33:24 👁️ 1

US special relationship is 'probably Israel', says UK ambassador

#relationship#ambassador#probably#special#israel
Fagnar áformaðri íbúðauppbyggingu
📅 28.04.2026 16:31:32 👁️ 1

Fagnar áformaðri íbúðauppbyggingu

#íbúðauppbyggingu#áformaðri#fagnar
Sandra segir rangt að heimgreiðslur séu betri fyrir börn – „Engin haldbær vísindi“ - DV
📅 28.04.2026 16:28:32 👁️ 1

Sandra segir rangt að heimgreiðslur séu betri fyrir börn – „Engin haldbær vísindi“ - DV

#heimgreiðslur#haldbær#vísindi#sandra#segir
Fróaði sér úti og var gripinn með teiknað barnaníðsefni - Vísir
📅 28.04.2026 16:22:29 👁️ 1

Fróaði sér úti og var gripinn með teiknað barnaníðsefni - Vísir

#barnaníðsefni#gripinn#teiknað#fróaði#vísir
Tæplega 360 milljóna viðsnúningur hjá Símanum
📅 28.04.2026 16:20:15 👁️ 1

Tæplega 360 milljóna viðsnúningur hjá Símanum

#viðsnúningur#milljóna#tæplega#símanum
Áframhaldandi landris og þrýstingur eykst
📅 28.04.2026 15:59:05 👁️ 1

Áframhaldandi landris og þrýstingur eykst

#áframhaldandi#þrýstingur#landris#eykst
Faisal Islam: Why the UAE's exit from Opec is a big deal
📅 28.04.2026 15:55:46 👁️ 1

Faisal Islam: Why the UAE's exit from Opec is a big deal

#faisal#islam#exit#from#opec
Aftökum fjölgað frá 2020
📅 28.04.2026 15:54:17 👁️ 1

Aftökum fjölgað frá 2020

#aftökum#fjölgað