News

Reform UK complains to BBC over Caerphilly debate audience

Published

1 month ago

January 7, 2026

Party questions impartiality after audience member who challenged candidate later selected as Plaid Cymru councillor

REFORM UK has complained to the BBC over a televised by-election debate in Caerphilly, after it emerged that an audience member who challenged the party’s candidate is now standing for Plaid Cymru as a community councillor.

The complaint relates to a Your Voice, Your Vote programme broadcast by BBC Wales during the Senedd by-election campaign in October 2025. The contest was triggered by the sudden death of Labour MS Hefin David.

Six candidates took part in the debate, including Reform UK candidate Llyr Powell and Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle, alongside representatives of other parties.

During the programme, Caerphilly resident Alison Vyas challenged Powell over Reform UK’s stance on immigration, telling him she had “never felt so unwelcome” in her home town since the party began campaigning locally. Her son also spoke during the exchange, citing census figures showing that 2.9% of Caerphilly residents were born outside the UK.

Footage of the exchange circulated widely on social media and was shared repeatedly during the remainder of the campaign.

Whittle went on to win the by-election, securing 47% of the vote.

Reform UK now argues that Vyas’s subsequent selection as a Plaid Cymru community council candidate raises questions over the impartiality of the BBC debate audience. The party has submitted a formal complaint to the broadcaster.

Party leader Nigel Farage described the development as “the final straw”, claiming it undermined confidence that Reform UK would receive fair and balanced treatment in BBC election coverage. Reform Wales regional director David Thomas also suggested the audience had been “curated” in a way that disadvantaged the party.

Plaid Cymru confirmed earlier this week that Vyas will stand as a community councillor in Caerphilly’s Van Ward, but said she was not a member or activist at the time of the BBC debate. Community council roles are voluntary and unpaid, and Van Ward is the area where she was raised.

Some commentators have drawn a link between Reform UK’s “plant” allegation and the fact that a clip of the audience member strongly challenging the party on immigration went viral during the campaign.

The BBC said it had received Reform UK’s complaint and defended its editorial processes.

A spokesperson said: “As with all BBC election debates, the audience was selected through an established and impartial vetting process designed to ensure a fair representation of political views. All participants were selected in line with our standard editorial guidelines.”

The dispute follows a period of tension between Reform UK and Welsh media outlets. The party declined to take part in the first BBC Radio Wales debate of the 2026 Senedd campaign, prompting criticism from other parties.

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

13 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.

Sentence and order

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously denied a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

18 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

19 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.