Reform UK leader Nigel Farage ignited fierce backlash after describing Welsh people as “foreign speakers” in a controversial paid-for video message. His remarks, made in a private clip recorded via the Cameo platform, have drawn sharp condemnation from across the Welsh political spectrum just weeks before the crucial Senedd election.
Farage’s Controversial Wedding Message
In the brief video, Farage expressed regret for missing a wedding, stating he was “gutted” not to attend because “half the guests were Welsh.” He then added, “Who knows what would have happened with all those foreign speakers there. I don’t know.” The clip was commissioned through Cameo, a service where celebrities record personalized messages for a fee.
The Guardian uncovered the video, revealing that the original request was to follow a script including the phrase “far too many foreigners for me” to describe the Welsh guests. This incendiary language has inflamed tensions just seven weeks ahead of the May 2026 Senedd elections, where Reform UK aims to gain power in Wales.
Welsh Political Leaders Condemn Farage’s Remarks
Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar denounced the comments as a “gross insult to the people of Wales,” accusing Reform UK of showing blatant disregard for Welsh culture, language, and heritage.
A Welsh Labour spokesperson slammed Farage’s “disdain for the people of Wales and the Welsh language,” while Plaid Cymru publicly declared Reform UK “unfit to be anywhere near power in Wales.”
Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, called the statement “disgraceful,” exposing Farage’s “sneering ignorance.” The Wales Green Party echoed these sentiments, accusing Farage of showing “no respect for Wales at all” and treating Welsh people as just “another group to target with hatred.”
Reform Party Responds
James Evans, a Reform MS, emphasized that the Welsh language remains “very important” to the party, affirming, “Wales is a bilingual nation. We speak English and Welsh, and whatever language you speak, you should feel welcome in our country.”
A spokesperson for Farage stressed that the Cameo videos “should not be treated as political statements or campaign activity,” framing them as informal, paid messages rather than official party communications.
Farage’s Controversial Use of Cameo
Farage has produced several videos via Cameo, a platform where public figures record personalized clips for a fee. Earlier this year, he breached MPs’ rules by failing to register payments from Cameo within the required 28-day period.
As the Senedd election approaches, polls indicate a tight race with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK competing fiercely to overtake Labour, which is struggling to maintain its hold on Cardiff Bay.
