So politicians want rid of the Senedd: would they abolish any other country's democracy? | Will Hayward

"Wales is a wonderfully unusual country and that is why I love it. But one quirk about Wales I really dislike is how increasingly often I hear it said that its inhabitants should have less say over their lives. As if any people would ever want less power. Time and again you hear this view espoused most recently by Reform UK's sole member of the Welsh Senedd, Laura Anne Jones."

"In her former incarnation as a minor Tory, Jones entered the public consciousness in Wales only a few times. Once was when she used a racist slur to describe Chinese people. Another was when she defected from the Conservatives to join Reform in July because she just suddenly felt that the Conservative party was unrecognisable. I am sure this had nothing to do with the fact that the Tories are facing near wipeout in Wales in next May's election."

"And what has Jones done since in her role as the lone Reform MS? Well, at the first Reform party conference this week she quickly announced that the party is not ruling out abolishing the Senedd. Jones is not the first politician to consider abolishing Wales's parliament, the foundation of which was the culmination of decades of campaigning and a declaration of Welsh nationhood."

Wales is presented as a distinct country with a valued sense of identity. A growing strand of opinion within Reform UK advocates reducing Welsh self-governance and limiting inhabitants' say over their lives. Laura Anne Jones, now Reform's sole Senedd member, previously used a racist slur and defected from the Conservatives, citing the party as unrecognisable. Jones and other Reform figures have signalled that abolishing the Senedd is under consideration. Former Tory and Reform politicians have flirted with anti-devolution stances. Members of Reform view the Senedd as an opportunity to massively increase their representation and electoral advantage.

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