Nigel Farage rules out standing in Senedd election

Nigel Farage has ruled out standing at next year's Senedd election.

When asked whether he would stand, the Reform UK leader said, "I'm not Welsh so it's not going to be me".

"I don't intend to do that, that would be playing the game in the most cynical way and I'm not going to do it," he told ITV Cymru Wales's Sharp End programme.

MPs can stand for the Senedd but, if successful, they would have to resign their seat at Westminster within eight days of their election.

As well as the voting system, the rules for prospective members are also changing, meaning all candidates at next May's election will have to live in Wales.

Mr Farage has served as leader of the party since last June and has been the MP for Clacton since July's General Election.

This week, he told Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates "essential" migration would be allowed under its manifesto plans.

Next May's election will be the first time people in Wales elect 96 members of the Senedd - an increase of more than 50% - under a more proportional voting system.

A poll published last week put Plaid Cymru on 30% of the vote share ahead of Reform UK on 25%, with Labour in third (18%) and the Conservatives in fourth (13%).

After its publication, Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth told Sky News his party was "ready to form a government" in Wales.

While it has previously been a coalition partner, it has never been the largest party in the Senedd.

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Eluned Morgan, leader of Welsh Labour, gave a landmark speech last week in which she called on Keir Starmer to rethink cuts to the winter fuel allowance.

Baroness Morgan, who became Wales's first minister last summer, called for "respect for devolution" and for Wales to get its "fair share" of funding from the UK government.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives will hold their annual conference in Llangollen this weekend, having announced last week they would cut the basic rate of income tax if they form the next government.